Connectivity Piezocomposite Research Articles

Air-Coupled Piezoelectric Transducers with Active Polypropylene Foam Matching Layers

This work presents the design, construction and characterization of air-coupled piezoelectric transducers using 1–3 connectivity piezocomposite disks with a stack of matching layers being the outer one an active quarter wavelength layer made of polypropylene foam ferroelectret film. This kind of material has shown a stable piezoelectric response together with a very low acoustic impedance (<0.1 MRayl). These features make them a suitable candidate for the dual use or function proposed here: impedance matching layer and active material for air-coupled transduction. The transducer centre frequency is determined by the λ/4 resonance of the polypropylene foam ferroelectret film (0.35 MHz), then, the rest of the transducer components (piezocomposite disk and passive intermediate matching layers) are all tuned to this frequency. The transducer has been tested in several working modes including pulse-echo and pitch-catch as well as wide and narrow band excitation. The performance of the proposed novel transducer is compared with that of a conventional air-coupled transducers operating in a similar frequency range.

Experimental and simulated performance of lithium niobate 1–3 piezocomposites for 2 MHz non-destructive testing applications

Lithium niobate piezocomposites have been investigated as the active element in high temperature resistant ultrasonic transducers for non-destructive testing applications up to 400°C. Compared to a single piece of lithium niobate crystal they demonstrate shorter pulse length by 3×, elimination of lateral modes, and resistance to cracking. In a 1–3 connectivity piezocomposite for high temperature use (200–400°C), lithium niobate pillars are embedded in a matrix of flexible high temperature sealant or high temperature cement.In order to better understand the design principles and constraints for use of lithium niobate in piezocomposites experiments and modelling have been carried out. For this work the lithium niobate piezocomposites were investigated at room temperature so epoxy filler was used. 1–3 connectivity piezocomposite samples were prepared with z-cut lithium niobate, pillar width 0.3–0.6mm, sample thickness 1–4mm, pillar aspect ratio (pillar height/width) 3–6, volume fraction 30 and 45%. Operating frequency was 1–2MHz.Experimental measurements of impedance magnitude and resonance frequency were compared with 3-D finite element modelling using PZFlex. Resonance frequencies were predicted within 0.05MHz and impedance magnitude within 2–5% for samples with pillar aspect ratio ⩾3 for 45% volume fraction and pillar aspect ratio ⩾6 for 30% volume fraction. Laser vibrometry of pulse excitation of piezocomposite samples in air showed that the lithium niobate pillars and the epoxy filler moved in phase. Experiment and simulation showed that the thickness mode coupling coefficient kt of the piezocomposite was maintained at the lithium niobate bulk value of approximately 0.2 down to a volume fraction of 30%, consistent with calculations using the (Smith and Auld, 1991 [1]) model for piezocomposites.

Characterization of an epoxy filler for piezocomposites compatible with microfabrication processes [Correspondence

Miniature ultrasound transducer arrays that can operate at frequencies above 30 MHz are needed for high-resolution medical imaging. One way to achieve this is with a kerfless structure based on 1-3 connectivity piezocomposite with the electrodes defined by photolithography. To achieve this, not only does the composite need planar, parallel, and smooth surfaces, but it must also be made with an epoxy filler compatible with the chemicals, heat, and vacuum required for photolithography. This paper reports full characterization of an epoxy suitable for fine-scale kerfless array fabrication, including photolithographic processing. Material properties have been investigated as a function of cure temperature and for compatibility with solvents. By increasing the cure temperature, the crosslinking between the epoxy and the hardener in- creases, resulting in a higher glass transition temperature. The cured epoxy consequently has better resistance to both heat and solvents. An elevated cure temperature, near 100°C, is required to optimize material properties for photolithography on 1-3 piezocomposites. The acoustic properties of the epoxy have also been studied. These are similar to other epoxies used in piezocomposite fabrication and no significant changes have been observed for the different cure temperatures.

Design guidelines of 1-3 piezoelectric composites dedicated to ultrasound imaging transducers, based on frequency band-gap considerations

Periodic piezoelectric composites are widely used for imaging applications such as biomedical imaging or nondestructive evaluation. In this paper such structures are considered as phononic crystals, and their properties are investigated with respect to periodicity. This approach is based on the investigation of band gaps, that strongly depend on the properties of the considered composites (geometry, size, nature of materials). It is motivated by the fact that band gaps in principle allow one to excite the thickness mode without exciting other parasitic propagating waves. The used plane-wave-expansion method has already been applied to periodic piezoelectric composites, but, in contrast to previous approaches, not only waves propagating in the symmetry plane of the composite are considered, but also waves propagating with a nonzero angle of incidence with this plane. The method is applied to a representative 1-3 connectivity piezocomposite in order to demonstrate its potentialities for design purposes. The evolution of band gaps is explored with respect to the wave vector component parallel to piezoelectric transducer-rod axis. All bulk waves that contribute to the setting up of plate modes in the vicinity of the thickness mode are found and identified.

Nonlinear characterization with burst excitation of 1–3 piezocomposite transducers

Ultrasonic transducers made with 1–3 connectivity piezocomposites are frequently used in Medical applications and nondestructive testing. When the transducer is used for special applications as, for instance air-coupled transmission, it is necessary to compensate for the high difference of acoustic impedance between transducer and medium using high amplitude pulses to generate high acoustic signal. Thus, the nonlinear behavior of the transducer must be taken into account in similar application conditions. The newly developed method, which performs the nonlinear characterization with burst signal excitation near the thickness resonance frequency, is based on the measure of the current as well as the vibration velocity of the piezocomposite transducer. The current of the stationary response is measured before the end of the burst signal excitation. Burst excitation enables us to measure the nonlinear characterization without producing overheating in the transducers. The amplitude level dependence of mechanical losses tan δ m and the stiffness increases |Δ c/ c 0| have been studied, as well as the velocity dependence of a point of the transducer, measured with a laser vibrometer. In this method, the power level applied to the transducers can be higher than other nonlinear measurement methods, providing measurements of high accuracy.

Effet du procédé d'élaboration sur les caractéristiques diélectriques d'un composite électroactif

This study is devoted to the development of piezocomposite materials use for transducers. Two manufacturing processes for 0–3 connectivity piezocomposites are presented. The first one uses the centrifugal force to obtain powder compacting, the second one is based on casting under pressure. Two resins and several piezoelectric powders are used to produce various mixtures. The dielectric and piezoelectric properties of manufactured samples are compared. These results provide the validity zone of both technologies.

Effective electroelastic moduli of 3-3(0-3) piezocomposites

In a high volume fraction particle-loaded piezocomposite, some ferroelectric particles appear to be in contact, as in a 3-3 connectivity material; others are isolated in the polymer matrix, as in a pure 0-3 connectivity material. Such a material can be considered as a composite of composites characterized by a 3-3(0-3) connectivity. This paper follows two others that have described a matrix method to calculate all of the effective parameters of pure 0-3 and 3-3 connectivity piezocomposites. These previous models are used to obtain the effective properties of a 3-3(0-3) composite. A proportion of 0-3 connectivity in the composite is introduced, and the effective properties are studied as a function of this proportion. Experimental results compared with these predictions show that the model allows an evaluation of the proportion of 0-3 connectivity through the analysis of the electromechanical performance of the composite samples.

Investigation into the effects of modification of the passive phase for improved manufacture of 1-3 connectivity piezocomposite transducers

The 1-3 connectivity composite transducers comprise active piezoceramic pillars within a passive polymer matrix. The first stage in manufacturing the 1-3 material is to produce a bristle block (comprising a solid stock of active material with protruding pillars) by injection moulding or by dicing a piece of ceramic using precision sawing equipment. The bristle block is filled with a reactive polymer liquid that produces the passive polymer phase, and the filled block is machined to the desired dimensions. For optimum performance, the polymer phase should have complementary interaction with the ceramic phase as well as imparting dimensional stability. Epoxy-based polymers are the most usual passive materials because of their low viscosity in the uncured state and solvent resistance, coupled with their excellent adhesive, mechanical, and electrical properties. However, the curing of epoxy resins results in shrinkage of the polymer matrix and internal stress within the passive phase. This can lead to prestressing of the active ceramic material, distortion of pillars, reduction in the parallelism between the sides of pillars, acid, in certain circumstances, warpage of transducers. This is particularly evident when the solid stock in the bristle block is relatively thin. This paper reports the in situ modification of epoxy in the bristle block by UV-based low temperature polymerization of acrylate monomers within the epoxy matrix prior to polymerization of the epoxy resin. Internal stress measurements are presented to quantify the influence of this modification via a reduction of internal stress within the polymer matrix. Results from finite element analysis emphasise the conclusions of the experimental work, and examples of manufactured devices are presented. Composite transducer performance is assessed by laser measurement of surface displacement profiles, and a 50% improvement in surface displacement magnitude was observed for the modified devices.

Modeling of highly loaded 0-3 piezoelectric composites using a matrix method

A model previously developed for pure 0-3 connectivity piezocomposites has been extended to 3-3 connectivity. This matrix method allows the prediction of the effective electroelastic moduli of a piezocomposite according to its connectivity. It is used to optimize composite performance by choosing the optimal constituents for each phase. A simple combination of the results for 0-3 and 3-3 connectivities allows the effective proportion of 3-3 connectivity to be defined in highly loaded 0-3 piezocomposites. This theoretical analysis has been used to evaluate effective proportions of 3-3 connectivity in five composite samples. The values obtained are shown to be a function of the ceramic volume fraction and fabrication process. The results of this study were used to optimize the fabrication process.

Improving the bandwidth of 1-3 connectivity composite receivers using mode coupling

Temporal resolution in an ultrasonic system may be enhanced by the application of mechanical damping to the transducer rear face, thereby reducing internal reverberation and increasing effective bandwidth. However, for thickness drive transducers, this is accompanied inevitably by a reduction in sensitivity and, moreover, manufacture of suitable damping blocks can be difficult, particularly for lower frequency, small signal applications such as the detection of gas coupled ultrasound. This work describes an interesting alternative approach that utilizes the relatively strong coupling between the fundamental thickness mode and first lateral mode in 1-3 connectivity piezocomposite transducers. Finite element modeling is used to evaluate the influence of mode interaction on electromechanical coupling efficiency, surface displacement, sensitivity, and bandwidth as functions of the ceramic pillar dimensions for operation into both water and air load media. A range of composite devices was constructed and close agreement between theory and experiment is demonstrated, with a measured device bandwidth of 130% centered at 1.15 MHz. An example of using such a device within a gas-coupled ultrasonic system is presented and the response is shown to compare favorably with alternative transducer configurations.

A matrix method for modeling electroelastic moduli of 0-3 piezo-composites

A model is proposed to predict the electroelastic moduli of 0-3 connectivity piezo-composites from which parameters such as longitudinal wave velocity and thickness mode coupling factor can be deduced. The composite, a polymer loaded with ceramic particles, is represented by a unit cell, and a matrix manipulation is shown to be a practical way to perform a generalization of the series and parallel analysis used for 2-2 connectivity composites. The anisotropy of the ceramic phase is taken into account, and its effect on the properties of the composite is shown. The model is then used to optimize composite performance and to choose the two constituents through comparison of results obtained using several commercial polymers and ceramics.

Polymer composite material characterisation using a laser/air-transducer system

A wide bandwidth 1–3 connectivity piezocomposite air transducer has been used to detect laser-generated ultrasound in a variety of composite materials. Through thickness waveforms in various carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite plates will be presented, as well as a selection of Lamb waves. Signals were also obtained in samples of pultruded glass fibre reinforced composite of different thickness. Using the laser/air-transducer system, images were obtained of machined defects and delaminations by conventional C-scanning methods, and tomographic reconstruction techniques.