Actuators, piezoelectric ceramics and functionally gradient materials

Abstract

Piezoelectric ceramic actuators and materials play a key role in the development of advanced precision engineering. The breakthroughs in this field are closely related to the development of various types of piezoelectric ceramic actuators and related materials. The likelihood that the range of applications and demand for actuators will grow quickly has stimulated intensive researches on piezoelectric ceramics. Functionally gradient materials (FGMs) are new classes of composites characterized by compositional and/or microstructural gradation over macroscopic/microscopic distances. This constitutional gradation can be tailored to meet specific needs while providing the best utilization of composite components. Furthermore, FGMs technology is also a novel interfacial technology to solve the problems associated with the sharp interface between two dissimilar materials. In recent years significant advances in the development of FGMs have been achieved. In this paper, we first briefly review the recent progress of ceramic actuators and developments of piezoelectric materials, and then focus on summarizing typical applications of functional gradients in piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials.