Magnetoelectric Effect in Magnetostrictive/Polymer and Piezoelectric Composites

A 1200m V/cmOe magnetoelectric voltage coefficient was measured in a Terfenol-D/epoxy and PZT-5H[2-2] composite. The magnetoelectric effect is a result of a coupling between the magnetostrictive (Terfenol-D/epoxy) and piezoelectric (PZT-5H) layers. The coupling was achieved mechanically by bonding the piezoelectric layer in between two magnetostrictive layers. The maximum in magnetoelectric voltage coefficient was measured at a frequency of 8Hz and a bias magnetic field of 103kA/m. The magnetoelectric voltage coefficient was observed to be highly dependent upon the bias magnetic field.