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2.4 Piezocomposite Materials

One of the main technical issues for large-scale applications of phased array
technology in the late 1970s and mid-1980s was the manufacturing process and
acoustic insulation between array elements. The high cross-talk amplitude
between elements and the challenge to cut curved-shaped piezoelectric
materials led to a setback in industrial development. The common piezoelectric
materials are listed in Table 2-2.

Table 2-2 Main properties of commonly used piezoelectric materials.1,7

Symbol / Quartz BaTiO3 PbNb2O6 PZT-4 PZT-5A PVF2
Unit
d33 (pC/N) 2.3 190 85 289 400 20
g33 10-3 Vm/N 57 12.6 42.5 26.1 26.5 190

d33 g33 10-15 N/m 133 2394 3612 7542 10,600 3,800
kt 0.095 0.38 0.32 0.51 0.49 0.1
k 5 1700 225 1300 1700 11
Z (106 Rayl) 15.2 25.9 20 30 29 4
Mechanical Q 2,500 24 500 80 3-10

The amount of acoustic energy transferred to the load (test piece) reaches a
maximum when the acoustic impedance is matched between the probe and the
test piece. Some applications require an immersion technique and some use
direct contact with aluminum and/or steel. Most shear-wave and longitudinal-
wave applications for weld inspections require phased array probes mounted on
a wedge. Impedance matching between the probe/wedge and the test piece may
be achieved by mechanical (matching layer) or

Rev 0 Oct 2011 Page 28 of 186

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