PiezoceramicComposites
Complex Customized Product Designs
with Flexible Piezo Components

High Quality
Piezoceramic Composites
Piezoceramic composites combine a piezoelectric ceramic part and filling polymer and bring
together the advantages of both materials. The composites offer an alternative to the wellknown bulk ceramic components. In addition to excellent adaptability to the desired shape,
the polymer content offers many other advantages over bulk ceramics. For example, composites can easily adapt to environments with different acoustic impedances. This opens up awide range of applications in the life sciences and industrial sectors.
Together with customers, PI Ceramic develops piezoceramic composites suitable for the respective application. As our highly qualified team controls all process steps, we can implement
customer-specific adaptations in the shortest possible time. In addition to providing consulting
during the design and development processes, PI Ceramic also offers the manufacturing ofcomposites with the highest quality.

Support for medical technology
applications including

Support for industrial
applications including▪ HIFU incisionless surgery & drug delivery▪ Blood flow metering▪ Ultrasound imaging▪ Cosmetic dermatology▪ Sensor devices▪ Hydroacoustics▪ Water metering▪ Non-destructive testing

Key features of composites▪ 	Mechanical flexibility▪ High electromechanical coupling▪ Low acoustic impedance▪ Complex designs possible▪ Low radial displacement▪ High resolution

PI‘s Piezo Composite
Capabilities
As sensors, actuators, and in ultrasonic transducers, piezoceramic composites can replacebulk ceramic piezo components in many applications.
PI Ceramic composite prototypes are manufactured using the Dice & Fill method with a 1-3 arrangement, cut to individual pins. In addition to the use of epoxy resin for rigid composites, polyurethaneis also available as a filling polymer for flexible composite structures. The dimensions and materials
can be selected according to the customer-specific piezo components and produced as a composite:

Specifications of piezoceramic composites:
Edge length x,y [mm]Thickness TH [mm]<80>0,1 - 16

Gap dimension b [µm]>80

Pin dimension a [µm]>200Frequency [MHz]0,08 - 8

Filling volume (volume share of ceramic in total composite) [%]30 - 80

Electrodes
Filling material

Thin layer (CuNi)
Epoxy resin, polyurethan

1-3 Piezoceramic
Composite Disc Samples
Piezo composites utilize the d33 effect and are characterized by limited radial deflection
due to the polymer filling. This results in a resonator with low coupling thickness. The pin
dimensions of the composite determine the capacitance (C). The working principle is the same
as for bulk ceramics of the same design.

Prototype specifications of 1-3 rigid piezoceramic discs, OD 25mm, PIC255:
Resonance

Thickness

Pin

Piezo-Resonant

ElectricalDielectric

Coupling

frequency

TH (mm)dimension

ceramic

impedance

capaci-loss factor

factorPIN (mm)share ofI (Ωtance C*tan δ (x10 -3)

keff (%)(thickness)volume (%)

f [kHz]

(nF)

400

4.0

1.0 x 1.0

83

<30

1.6

<20>55600

2.6

0.5 x 0.5

69<152.1<20>601500

1.1

0.4 x 0.4

69

<55.0

<20>552000

0.7

0.3 x 0.3

64

<36.5

<20>55Customized Piezoceramic
Composite Designs
PI Ceramic has in-depth expertise, from the selection of suitable materials to the development andmanufacturing of composites according to the desired specifications and applications. In addition
to the selection of composites according to the piezo components, the following parameters canbe customized:

Composite in2-2 arrangement▪ Material▪ Design▪ Layout of the pins
▪ Electrodes
Larger dimensions are checked upon request

Composite Design
The composite structure allows for components such as plates, discs, half-shells, or tubes, as well
as more complex shapes such as smooth-surfaced shafts.
Composites can be manufactured in soft and hard PZT and in various arrangements. In addition tothe 1-3 variant (individual pins), the 2-2 arrangement (ceramic rows) is also available.

Electrodes & Contacting
Electrodes are applied to the finished composite by sputtering. In addition to copper-nickel (CuNi),
other compounds such as gold (Au) are possible. Both full surface electrodes, e.g., for broadband
applications, as well as insulated single electrodes are available upon request.
If contacting is required, stranded wires or flexible circuit boards can be bonded to the composites.

Composite in
1-3 arrangement

PI CeramicFounded in 1992, PI Ceramic develops and produces high-tech solutions based on piezo­
ceramics. As part of the PI Group, PI Ceramic is the global PI competence center for piezo
technology with a broad product range consisting of piezoceramic components and multi­layer
actuators through to highly refined component parts to subsystems for ultrasound technology. PI Ceramic can not only develop and produce customer-specific piezo elements in small
volumes but also handle the automated mass production of millions of units.
With over thirty years of experience and technical expertise, PI Ceramic operates success­fullyin innovative and dynamic markets and realizes sophisticated applications in the areas of
medical technology, industrial ultrasonic sensors, and precision dosing.

BRO93E Piezoceramic Composites 05/2024 0.5 Subject to change without notice. © Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG 2024

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