Piezoelectricity of 1-3 PZT/epoxy composites

The piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of 1-3 type PZT/epoxy composites have been investigated. These materials have important advantages for a wide range of applications. The piezoelectric strain d coefficient for the poled samples was determined using the interferometric technique. It is found that the d₃₃ values are 190 and 188 pm/V for the 0.4 and 0.6 volume fractions of PZT, respectively. The pyroelectric coefficient for samples with 0.4 and 0.6 volume fractions of PZT was measured and compared with that of the PZT. It is found that the coefficients of the composites increased with the ceramic content and reached values as large as 54 μC/m²/°C. Because these materials have good promise for applications such as pyroelectric detectors, the thermal diffusivity of the composites is also being determined. The data reported in this work might serve as a guide for development of specific applications of the composite.