Piezoelectric ceramics: Characteristics and applications

Piezoelectric ceramics have been used for a little over 30 years. The first piezoelectric ceramic was barium titanate and it is still used. The lead titanate zirconate ceramics were introduced about 1955 and quickly became the most widely used piezoelectric material. Compositions were developed for many specific applications, as the strength of ferroelectricity in lead titanate zirconate allowed major chemical modification. The development and characteristics of these materials are described and applications are reviewed. Major emphasis is placed on consumer applications, as it is these that account for the major business in piezoelectric ceramic materials.