Lead-Free Ceramics in Prestressed Ultrasonic Transducers

Today’s ultrasonic transducers find broad application in diverse technology branches and most often cannot be replaced by other actuators. They are typically based on lead-containing piezoelectric ceramics. These should be replaced for environmental and health issues by lead-free alternatives. Multi...

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Main Authors: Claus Scheidemann, Peter Bornmann, Walter Littmann, Tobias Hemsel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Actuators
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/14/2/55
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author Claus Scheidemann
Peter Bornmann
Walter Littmann
Tobias Hemsel
author_facet Claus Scheidemann
Peter Bornmann
Walter Littmann
Tobias Hemsel
author_sort Claus Scheidemann
collection DOAJ
description Today’s ultrasonic transducers find broad application in diverse technology branches and most often cannot be replaced by other actuators. They are typically based on lead-containing piezoelectric ceramics. These should be replaced for environmental and health issues by lead-free alternatives. Multiple material alternatives are already known, but there is a lack of information about their technological readiness level. To fill this gap, a small series of prestressed longitudinally vibrating transducers was set up with a standard PZT material and two lead-free variants within this study. The entire process for building the transducers is documented: characteristics of individual ring ceramics, burn-in results, and free vibration and characteristics under load are shown. The main result is that the investigated lead-free materials are ready to use within ultrasonic bolted Langevin transducers (BLTs) for medium-power applications, when the geometrical setup of the transducer is adopted. Since lead-free ceramics need higher voltages to achieve the same power level, the driving electronics or the mechanical setup must be altered specifically for each material. Lower self-heating of the lead-free materials might be attractive for heat-sensitive processes.
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spelling doaj-art-e92f11bd263b4baf9c276eb43b0781e52025-08-20T02:44:57ZengMDPI AGActuators2076-08252025-01-011425510.3390/act14020055Lead-Free Ceramics in Prestressed Ultrasonic TransducersClaus Scheidemann0Peter Bornmann1Walter Littmann2Tobias Hemsel3Dynamics and Mechatronics, Paderborn University, Warburger Strasse 100, 33098 Paderborn, GermanyATHENA Technologie Beratung GmbH, Technologiepark 13, 33100 Paderborn, GermanyATHENA Technologie Beratung GmbH, Technologiepark 13, 33100 Paderborn, GermanyDynamics and Mechatronics, Paderborn University, Warburger Strasse 100, 33098 Paderborn, GermanyToday’s ultrasonic transducers find broad application in diverse technology branches and most often cannot be replaced by other actuators. They are typically based on lead-containing piezoelectric ceramics. These should be replaced for environmental and health issues by lead-free alternatives. Multiple material alternatives are already known, but there is a lack of information about their technological readiness level. To fill this gap, a small series of prestressed longitudinally vibrating transducers was set up with a standard PZT material and two lead-free variants within this study. The entire process for building the transducers is documented: characteristics of individual ring ceramics, burn-in results, and free vibration and characteristics under load are shown. The main result is that the investigated lead-free materials are ready to use within ultrasonic bolted Langevin transducers (BLTs) for medium-power applications, when the geometrical setup of the transducer is adopted. Since lead-free ceramics need higher voltages to achieve the same power level, the driving electronics or the mechanical setup must be altered specifically for each material. Lower self-heating of the lead-free materials might be attractive for heat-sensitive processes.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/14/2/55lead-free piezoelectricBLT transducerpower ultrasonics
spellingShingle Claus Scheidemann
Peter Bornmann
Walter Littmann
Tobias Hemsel
Lead-Free Ceramics in Prestressed Ultrasonic Transducers
Actuators
lead-free piezoelectric
BLT transducer
power ultrasonics
title Lead-Free Ceramics in Prestressed Ultrasonic Transducers
title_full Lead-Free Ceramics in Prestressed Ultrasonic Transducers
title_fullStr Lead-Free Ceramics in Prestressed Ultrasonic Transducers
title_full_unstemmed Lead-Free Ceramics in Prestressed Ultrasonic Transducers
title_short Lead-Free Ceramics in Prestressed Ultrasonic Transducers
title_sort lead free ceramics in prestressed ultrasonic transducers
topic lead-free piezoelectric
BLT transducer
power ultrasonics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0825/14/2/55
work_keys_str_mv AT clausscheidemann leadfreeceramicsinprestressedultrasonictransducers
AT peterbornmann leadfreeceramicsinprestressedultrasonictransducers
AT walterlittmann leadfreeceramicsinprestressedultrasonictransducers
AT tobiashemsel leadfreeceramicsinprestressedultrasonictransducers