Dielectric and Piezoelectric Properties of PZT-PEG 0–3 Composites Prepared by Hot Press Method

Composites of polymer matrix mixed with ferroelectric ceramics have been well studied and their dielectric and piezoelectric properties are widely applied in various areas. These composites exploit functional properties of the ceramic and flexible mechanical properties of polymer. The polymer matrix usually serves to provide good protection of the ceramic phase while maintains the compliant mechanical property. These polymer ceramic composites are comparatively flexible and can be used to design large area vibration sensors by establishing intimate contact with the object to be detected. These composites are also significantly used in transducer applications. By imbedding piezoelectric ceramic powder into a polymer matrix, 0–3 composites with good mechanical properties and high dielectric breakdown strength can be developed. The electric and dielectric properties of these composites can be modified by mixing required amount of ceramic filler with polymer matrix. The obtained composites of 0–3 connectivity exhibit piezo properties of ceramics and flexibility, strength and lightness of polymers. Different ceramics and polymer matrices have been used in the past to optimize electromechanical coupling coefficient, pyroelectric and piezoelectric charge coefficient, relative permittivity and other effective coefficients for their applications such as transducers, sensors, actuators and ultrasonic antennae, etc. Here, we have developed PZT-PEG composites of 0–3 connectivity by hot press method with varying ceramic volume fraction from 0.1 to 0.6 using hot press method. These composites were poled by applying different poling voltages and different poling temperatures. Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of these composites were recorded. Various dielectric parameters were measured with varying frequency from 100 H_Z to 1 MHz and also with varying temperature. Dielectric constant and dissipation factor of these composites were also studied as the function of ceramic volume fraction at the frequency 100 KHz at room temperature. Obtained experimental results were analysed using Yamada model and were found in good agreement with theoretical fitting.