Piezoelectric Transducers for Sensors
Highly Sensitive Transducers for Efficient Measurement and Monitoring Systems
Piezoelectric sensors allow you to detect material defects, localize the position of objects, and differentiate between media and their movements. From the medical field to industrial applications, piezo components and their wide range of geometries form the core of these systems. Energy-efficient ceramics deliver highly precise and lightning-fast results while enabling sleek and compact designs.
PI Ceramic combines decades of experience in piezoceramic manufacturing with in-depth expertise in the development of custom piezoelectric transducers. This foundation powers application-oriented transducers that integrate seamlessly into sensor devices. When it comes to customized developments, FEM programs ensure prototypes are validated swiftly and with pinpoint accuracy.
Specifications
With over 30 years of expertise in the development and manufacturing of piezoceramics, PI Ceramic offers comprehensive services — from the selection of suitable materials to the development of customized, application-based components. Feasibility is always evaluated based on the requirements or dimensions provided.
| Piezoceramics | A wide range of >> piezoceramic components are available for manufacturing transducers. |
| Electronics | Customized solutions can be developed depending on feasibility. |
| Material | We offer various ferroelectric hard and soft PTZ materials as well as lead-free alternatives. A material overview can be found >> here and the corresponding datasheets can be found >> here. Comparative data for PZT and lead-free ceramics can be found >> here. |
| Options | We develop transducer systems for sensor devices, which in addition to piezoceramics, include the following elements:
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| Applications | Piezoceramic transducers are suitable for use in a wide range of industrial and medical sensors. Examples of possible applications can be found >> here. |
Comparative Material Data
Our offering of piezo materials features not only the proven PZT (lead zirconate titanate), but also alternatives such as KNN (potassium sodium niobate) and BNT (bismuth sodium titanate). Initial successful tests have already been performed on various sensor components. The performance of lead-free piezo components is evaluated on an application-specific basis using the respective component, since a direct one-to-one substitution of lead-containing materials is not possible. Consequently, the use of lead-free ceramics always requires customized adaptation to the desired requirements.
Implementing a wide range of customer projects in the field of lead-free ceramics and in-house development of innovative components are among PI Ceramic’s core competencies. For example, we demonstrated the successful use of BNT in an air bubble detector for medical applications:
The use of lead-free components only has a minor effect on the air-water sensitivity (lead-free signal vs. PZT-based signal: -3 dB). Adaptation is required primarily to account for differences in impedance and frequency. The resonant frequency can be deliberately tuned via the disc thickness. One advantage of lead-free piezoceramics, as demonstrated here, is that no coupling between radial and thickness modes occurs. This results in higher signal quality, improved measurement accuracy, and a reduction of undesired resonances.
- Flow metering of gases and liquids
- Air bubble detection
- Patient monitoring
- Device monitoring
- Ultrasonic imaging
- Ultrasonic needle tip tracking
- Flow metering
- Nondestructive testing
- Level detection
- Acceleration sensors
- Pressure sensors
- Hydroacoustics
- Acoustic emissions sensors
Special applications have unique requirements!
PI Ceramic collaborates with customers to develop transducers that meet the requirements of their target applications.