Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of ceramic-polymer composites with 0–3 connectivity type

Piezoelectric ceramic-polymer composites with 0–3 connectivity were fabricated from lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and poly(vinylidene-fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene [P(VDF-CTFE)] copolymer. PZT-P(VDF-CTFE) composites were prepared using the hot press method under various pressure levels of P(VDF-CTFE) at 170°C. The composites were investigated for density, as well as their dielectric and piezoelectric properties, while the particle size of the PZT powder and volume fraction were varied. The connectivity model for the composites was evaluated on the basis of the measured dielectric properties. The piezoelectric voltage constant (g 33 ) was found to achieve a maximum value with a volume fraction of 60 %. In addition, the PZT-P(VDF-CTFE) composite with a 60 % volume fraction was found to yield optimum d 33 × g 33 value of 7.27 pm2/N.