Improved piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composites for hydrophone applications

Composites of piezoelectric ceramic powders and organic polymers are described that provide highly desirable properties for sonar sensors: (1) high figures of merit, ghdh= 50(±5)×10−13 m2/N and ghdh/tanδ = 3.3×10−10 m2/N, (2) pressure-independent sensitivity up to high pressures (14 MPa, which is 2000psi), (3) thermal stability of the poled state for months at 100 °C, (4) high dielectric constants (60–70), (5) convenient melt processibility, and (6) robust mechanical properties.