Patent ID: 8132304

Claim:
A method for producing a piezoelectric actuator, comprising the following steps: applying a layer of metallization paste to each of a plurality of layers of piezoelectric material, the metallization paste including a noble metal with a low diffusion capability of electrically-conductive particles, the layers of metallization paste include a number of first metallization paste layers and a number of second metallization paste layers each first metallization paste layer having a recess in a first recess zone and each second metallization paste layer having a recess in a second zone differing from the first recess zone; applying a high diffusion paste containing noble metals with a very high diffusion capability of electrically-conductive particles in each of the first and second recesses; stacking the piezoelectric material layers such that the first metallization paste layers and the second metallization paste layers are arranged alternatively in a stack; and sintering the stack to cause: (a) the metallization paste in each metallization paste layer to form an electrode layer due to the lower diffusion capability of the electrically-conductive particles in the metallization paste, and (b) the high diffusion paste in each of the first and second recesses to form stress-relieving insulation areas due to the very high diffusion capability of the electrically-conductive particles in the high diffusion paste, the stress-relieving insulation areas exhibiting properties of electrical insulation and properties of preventing the adhesion of adjacent piezoelectric material layers in the stack.