Selecting passive and active materials for 1.3 composite power transducers

1.3 PZT-polymer composites were fabricated using the dice and fill method with various PZT types and volume fractions. These composites were evaluated for power underwater transducer applications with an air backed and no matching layer configuration. Electrical input and acoustical output powers were monitored as a function of the drive level. Total acoustic power densities of 30 W/cm2 were obtained with a P189/epoxy piezocomposite vibrating at 350 kHz with a low duty cycle (1-5%) and with a 90% efficiency. Power densities up to 20 W/cm2 were measured with a 50% duty cycle. Evolution and destruction of the transducers were monitored versus increasing averaged power. It was observed that better efficiencies were obtained with low volume fraction configurations allowing natural acoustic impedance matching to water. It was found that hard PZT type (Navy III) are optimal compositions even for piezocomposite transducers. It is shown that, unlike a common belief, the polymer mechanical losses are comparable to those of the active ceramic justifying that 1.3 piezocomposites are suited for low-cost power applications. In fact, the main limitation induced by the polymer phase is a strong thermal breakdown when the temperature of the transducer approaches the glass transition region of the polymer. Measurements of the polymer losses as a function of the temperature were obtained confirming this point and offering interesting new alternatives for future composite power transducers.