The effect of calcining temperature on the properties of 0-3 piezoelectric composites of PZT and a liquid crystalline thermosetting polymer

Abstract

We report on the optimisation of a recently developed high performance 0-3 piezoelectric composite comprising of the piezoelectric Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) powder and a liquid crystalline thermosetting matrix polymer (LCT). The matrix polymer is a liquid crystalline polymer comprising of an HBA-HNA backbone with phenylethynyl end-groups. The use of a high performance polymer makes the composite a possible candidate to be used in sensor applications at elevated temperatures. The composite properties were optimised by calcining the PZT powder at different temperatures, prior to mixing the powders into the LCT matrix. The aim is to study the effect of the calcining temperature on the piezoelectric properties of the composite The PZT powders were characterised by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The dielectric constant and piezoelectric charge constant (d 33 ) of the composite samples was measured. It was found that a relationship exists between the calcining temperature of the PZT powder and the piezoelectric properties of the composites. A maximum voltage constant of g 33 =63 mVm/N was obtained for a composite containing 40% (by volume) of PZT powder calcined at 1150°C.

Piezoelectric and mechanical properties of structured PZT–epoxy composites

“…The effect of calcination temperature on the piezoelectric properties of PZT 5A4 powder was previously investigated, and it has been reported that further calcinations of commercially available PZT powder improve the compositional homogeneity and thereby the piezoelectric properties. 27,30 From Fig. 1, it is clear that the crystallinity increases for the powder calcined at 1200°C compared to the as-received PZT powder, which will lead to better piezoelectric properties.…”

Piezoelectric and mechanical properties of fatigue resistant, self-healing PZT–ionomer composites

“…The particle size measured with SEM is about 3-5 µm, which is in good agreement particle size measured by laser scattering. The phase purity and compositional homogeneity are studied by x-ray powder diffraction using a Bruker-AXS D5005 diffractometer [11,15]. The calcined powder crystallizes in a perovskite structure with the coexistence of rhombohedral and tetragonal phases.…”

“…The 0-3 composites are considered to be the least complicated in terms of manufacturing and ease of molding in complex, predesigned shapes. Although there have been many reports about piezoelectric-polymer composites with 0-3 connectivity, only a handful of investigations have been carried out on the effect of poling conditions on the piezoelectric properties of the composites for polymer matrices with different electrical conductivities [9][10][11][12][13][14][15].…”

Analysis of the state of poling of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) particles in a Zn-ionomer composite

“…In order to improve its piezoelectric properties the as-received powder was calcined at 1200 C for 2 h in a closed alumina crucible in a Nabertherm furnace applying a heating rate of 5 C/min. The calcined powder was ball milled using yttria stabilized zirconia balls of 5 mm diameter in cyclohexane for 4 hrs [10]. Subsequently, the powder was dried at 150 C and stored in a closed container to avoid moisture absorption.…”