Pb(Ni1/3Sb2/3)O3-PbZrTiO3 Ceramic Sensors for Underwater Transducer Application

Cymbal is a class-V flextensional transducer that consists of thickness poled ceramic disc sandwiched between the two metal end caps which acts as a mechanical transformer. Cymbal transducers were fabricated using piezoceramic discs of compositions Pb0.988(Zr0.52Ti0.48) 0.976Nb0.024O3 (PZT type 5A) and Pb0.98La0.02 (NiSb)0.05[(Zr0.52 Ti0.48)0.995]0.95O3 (PNS-PZT). Piezoelectric and hydrostatic constants for PNS-PZT composition were on higher side. End capswere made up of brass sheet having thickness 0.5 mm. Underwater testing of the polyurethane moulded cymbal hydrophones were carried out in acoustic tank and compared. The resonance frequency for both the hydrophones was 10.1 kHz. PNS-PZT hydrophone shows higher sensitivity (-183.2 dB re 1V/μPa) compared to PZT type 5A (-191.2 dB re 1V/μPa) at resonance frequency. Directivity pattern observed for PNS-PZT is omni-directional near resonance frequency. Defence Science Journal, 2012, 62(4), pp.269-273 , DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.62.1718