New Materials for Large Strain Actuator Applications
Abstract
Several new materials capable of generating large strains under an electric field are being developed for applications as actuators and high-drive sonar projectors. These materials are capable of generating strains which are several times larger than those produced by conventional lead zirconate-titanate ceramics. The first group of materials are the class of lead magnesium niobate- lead titanate (PMNPT) ceramics. These materials are electrostrictive and, therefore, are operated under dc bias fields. The largest strains are obtained when the temperature is maintained in the region of the order-disorder phase transition of the material. This, however, makes the properties of the material temperature dependent. An alternative material is the family of lanthanum- modified lead zirconate-titanate (PLZT) ceramics. These materials have been developed extensively for electrooptic applications. They can generate even higher levels of strain compared with the PMNPT ceramics with less temperature dependence. They, however, suffer from higher dielectric hysteresis and are more suitable for actuator applications because of dielectric heating. Results are presented for measurements on several compositions of PMNPT and PLZT. Lead magnesium-lead titanate, Lead lanthanum, Actuator, Zirconate-titanate, Transducer, Electrostriction
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA279235
Entities
People
- Kurt M. Rittenmyer
- Robert Y. Ting
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory