Non-linear properties of piezoelectric ceramics

Sensors and actuators based on piezoelectric ceramics are finding an increasingly large variety of applications under a very wide range of environmental conditions and applied signals. Some actuator applications require the piezoelectric materials to support large mechanical loads and produce high strain output. In order to accomplish this requirement of higher strains, large electric fields must be applied. This results in a significant non-linear behaviour and hence affects the performance of the material. It is therefore important to understand the behaviour and properties of these materials over a large range of temperature, frequency and applied electric fields and mechanical stresses. We have measured some of the dielectric, elastic and piezoelectric constants of soft (EC-65, EC-76) and hard (EC-64, EC-69) lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric ceramics, manufactured by EDO Ceramics, as a function of temperature, frequency, applied field and applied stress. We have also determined the dependence of the piezoelectric constants on an applied DC bias voltage or stress. The time dependence of the piezoelectric response in the piezoelectric ceramics has also been studied. A summary of the results will be presented. Most of these results can be understood on the basis of the extrinsic contributions to the piezoelectric response that arises from the existence of domains in the material.