Piezoelectric composites

• US 4,933,230 A
• Filed: 12/10/1987
• Issued: 06/12/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Colloid Company (Minerals Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Colloid Company (Minerals Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: O'Toole, Michael P., Safari, Ahmad, Card, Roger J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCAMISH, MARION E
• Application Number:
  US07/132,650
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 428/242, 428/244, 428/240, 428/262, 428/283, 428/288, 428/290, 428/401, 428/260, 310/357, 310/358
• US Class Current: 442/178
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/092 Forming composite materials
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/852 Composite materials, e.g. having 1-3 or 2-2 type connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/298 Physical dimension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2975 Coated or impregnated ceramic fiber fabric

Abstract

Piezoelectric ceramic polymer matrices, piezoelectric composites, and methods of make the matrices and composites are disclosed.

Claims

1. A ceramic polymer matrix composition suitable for use in piezoelectric composites comprising:

(a) a woven or non-woven mat of piezoelectric ceramic material comprising fibers have an outer diameter of less than about 50 microns, and

(b) a polymer matrix.

2. A ceramic-polymer matrix composition of claim 1 wherein said ceramic comprises metal salts or metal complexes, the metal of which is selected from the group consisting of:

lead, zirconium, titanium, barium, lanthanum, manganese, magnesium, zinc, antimony, tellurium, iron, tantalum, tungsten, bismuth, and niobium.

3. A ceramic-polymer matrix composition of claim 1 wherein said ceramic is (a) lead zirconium titanate, (b) lead titanate, (c) barium titanate, or (d) lead zirconium titanate in admixture with niobium oxide.

4. A ceramic-polymer matrix composition of claim 1 further comprising a reinforcing filler wherein said reinforcing filler is selected from the group consisting of ceramic metal or polymer fibers and inorganic, metal, organic, polymer or activated carbon powders.

5. A piezoelectric composite comprising:

(a) a piezoelectric ceramic material comprising a woven or non-woven mat of fibers having an outer diameter of less than about 50 microns,

(b) a polymer matrix, and

(c) electrodes.

6. A composite of claim 5 wherein said ceramic comprises metal salts or metal complexes, the metal of which is selected from the group consisting of:

lead, zirconium, titanium, barium, lanthanum, manganese, magnesium, zinc, antimony, tellurium, iron, tantalum, tungsten, bismuth, and niobium.

7. A composite of claim 5 wherein said ceramic is (a) lead zirconium titanate, (b) lead titanate, (c) barium titanate, or (d) lead zirconium titanate in admixture with niobium oxide.

8. A transducer comprising and piezoelectric composite of claim 5.

9. A composite of claim 5 further comprising a reinforcing filler.

10. A composite of claim 9 wherein said reinforcing filler is selected from the group consisting of ceramic metal or polymer fibers and inorganic, metal, organic, polymeric or activated carbons powders.