Bulk Piezoceramics

CTS bulk piezoceramic product assortment on white background

CTS manufactures bulk piezoelectric ceramic components in industry grade PZT and lead-free materials by means of ceramic powder pressing. Utilizing the direct and converse piezoelectric effects, our piezoelectric ceramic components are ideal for a variety of sensor, actuator and transducer applications where conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy or vice versa is required. Piezoceramic components are a cost-effective solution, characterized by high piezoelectric performance, reliable operation, high durability and great flexibility in terms of shaping. With a vast selection of application-optimized materials, these products can easily by customized to fulfill specific performance requirements.

CTS piezoelectric ceramic components are utilized in markets and applications such as:

Underwater Acoustics / Sonar / Hydrophones
Ultrasonic Cleaning and Welding
Accelerometers / Vibration Sensors
Medical Ultrasound Imaging
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)
Flowmeters
Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)

Piezoceramic Component Geometries

Piezoelectric ceramic components from CTS come in all standard geometries and dimensions, tailored to your exact performance requirements. Below, you can see the range of component geometries available. We can also accommodate unique requests that fall outside of the standard range of specifications. Explore our capabilities below, and feel free to contact our ceramics experts for further inquiries.

Discs, Rings and Rods

The circular/toroidal shape of piezoceramic discs, rings and rods provides radial symmetry which enables both efficient energy coupling and uniform stress distribution - the latter contributing to prolonged operational life spans. Piezoceramic rings are a popular choice for stacked Langevin transducers used in active sonar or power ultrasound applications such as welding and cleaning, whereas piezoceramic discs are often utilized in flowmeters and equipment for ultrasonic inspection.

Discs, Rings and Rods

Plates, Wafers, Bars and Wedges

Piezoelectric ceramic plates, wafers, bars and wedges are versatile components that see widespread use. The rectangular shape of these components is particular advantageous in applications where a unidirectional force or displacement is required, or where uniform deformation is needed to produce consistent displacements or vibrations. The simplicity of the rectangular shape makes these components easy to produce in large quantities and easy to integrate in a broad spectrum of applications, including medical imaging and drop-on-demand inkjet printing. Wedges are more complex products, typically used within larger assemblies for low-frequency sonar systems.

Plates, Wafers, Bars and Wedges

Tubes and Cylinders

Piezoceramic tube and cylinder components inherently provide radial symmetry, allowing for 360º actuation and even vibration around the central axis. Tubes often take advantage of either the low-frequency radial (hoop) vibration mode for long-range operation in underwater applications or the high-frequency wall thickness mode in non-focused, high-intensity therapeutic medical applications. They offer reliable performance and durability, good resonance control and a variety of electrode layout options for optimal performance in a given application.

Tubes and Cylinders

Bowls and Hemispheres

Thanks to their concave shape, piezoceramic bowls are used to focus ultrasonic energy on a pin-pointed target similar to a magnifying glass. As a result, these components are ideal for all manners of therapeutic medical ultrasound applications such as non-invasive surgery and cosmetic treatments. Hemispheres are typically used in underwater applications such as hydrophones and acoustic communication, where their central symmetry enables homogenous performance in all directions.

Bowls and Hemispheres

Composites

A piezoelectric composite is the unique combination of a piezoceramic material and a polymer resin. Composites exhibit strong piezoelectric activity, high electromechanical coupling and great flexibility, making them a useful alternative to traditional piezoceramic components in many instances, particularly medical imaging, therapeutic ultrasound and other demanding applications.

Composites

Shear Plates and Shear Stacks

Piezoceramic shear plates and stacks are designed to utilize the shear piezoelectric effect, offering the double advantage of high piezoelectric coefficients while being symmetrical which renders the components less sensitive to temperature variations. Shear elements are a popular choice for accelerometer applications and for single or multiaxial actuation.

Shear Plates and Shear Stacks

Stacks and Assemblies

CTS offers customized piezoelectric stacks and assemblies for unique application requirements. Stacks of piezoceramic components are used as upper-level assemblies to facilitate the assembly of transducers. They are also employed in actuator and generator applications in order to provide greater displacements and force outputs or higher current generation.

Stacks and Assemblies

Ceramic Material Properties

CTS has developed a broad range of piezoelectric ceramic materials, including application-specific PZT-formulations and lead-free alternatives. Here, you can compare the properties of our materials to see which is the better choice for your application.

Ceramic Material Properties

CTS engineer looking at product

Partner with a Piezoelectric Specialist

CTS can help decide on material properties to deliver products that meet the unique requirements of your project. Work with a technical expert to begin your design today.

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