Effect of volume fraction and molding temperature on the electric properties of PZT/PVC composites

In recent years, combining a ferroelectric ceramic and a polymer matrix to form a flexible composite with coupling properties in between that of two individual phases has been pursued for sensors in medical applications and hydrophones. For hydrophone applications, a useful piezoelectric material should have high piezoelectric voltage coefficient (g
₃₃
), piezoelectric strain coefficient (d
₃₃
) and high electromechanical coupling coefficient (K
_p
), low density and acoustic impendence (Z). The PZT/nanocrystalline PVC composites are prepared by hot-pressing technique. The microstructure of all composites was investigated by XRD and SEM. The effect of volume fraction and molding temperature on dielectric, piezoelectric properties and P-E hysteresis of PZT/PVC composites was investigated. The optimal electric properties have been obtained in 0.5PZT/0.5PVC composite at molding temperature being 150degC, showing epsiv
_r
= 47.66 , d
₃₃
=18.5 pC/N, g
₃₃
=43.91 mVmiddotmmiddotN
^-1
, K
_p
=0.220, d
₃₃
.g
₃₃
=0.81times10
^-12
Pa
^-1
, Z=11.25times10
⁶
kgmiddots
^-1
middotm
^-2
, and could be used for hydrophone materials in the future.