Ceramic piezoelectric fibers: Correlating single fiber properties with active fiber composite performance

A methodology has been developed to monitor the quality and performance of Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) active fibers manufactured by CeraNova Corporation (Franklin, MA) in a diameter range of 80 to 500 mu m for use in Active Fiber Composites (AFC) for structural control applications. Single fiber P-E loop tests (induced polarization versus applied electric field) and density measurements are conducted on samples from each fiber production run. Results are correlated with AFC pack quality, determined by measuring actuation performance (composite strain versus applied electric field) and pack capacitance. Single fiber piezoelectric properties are comparable to those of bulk PZT-SA, i.e. remanent polarization P-r in excess of 30 mu C/cm(2) and coercive field E-c on the order of 14 kV/cm. Sintered fiber density is consistently greater than 95% of theoretical. AFC packs routinely exhibit actuation in excess of 1200 microstrain at 2.5 kV/mm applied field. Fiber characterization techniques and quantitative single fiber behavior versus composite performance correlations are discussed.