0-3 piezoceramic-polymer composites prepared using thermoplastics and elastomers

A number of thermoplastic polymers and elastomers are evaluated with respect to their use in 0-3 piezoceramic-polymer composites. Materials were prepared by dispersing 50 vol.% of pure lead titanate powder within various polymer matrices, and characterized by measurement of electrical resistivity as well as dielectric and piezoelectric properties, and by XRD (X-ray diffraction). Results are also presented on poling experiments carried out on selected composites and I-V measurements which reveal substantial departures from linearity in certain materials. It is shown that composites prepared using polypropylene can be poled efficiently and exhibit a reasonable piezoelectric response