Piezoelectric Usage Areas

In our previous articles, we explained in detail what piezoelectric property is.   (What is Piezo Electric Property?)

To touch again briefly, piezoelectric is the electrical force that occurs as a result of mechanical force applied on some materials. At the same time, the piezoelectric effect is a reversible effect. In other words, when a force is applied to a material with piezoelectric properties, it can generate electricity, but when electricity is applied to the same material, a mechanical movement occurs in the material. All piezoelectric materials are non-conductive materials. These materials are divided into two as crystal and ceramic. It can also be divided into natural and artificial piezoelectric materials. Examples of artificial piezoelectric materials are lead zirconate titanate (PZT), barium titanate and lithium niobate, while quartz crystals are examples of natural piezoelectric materials. The electricity produced by artificial piezoelectric materials is higher than natural piezoelectric materials.

Piezoelectric effect is widely used in daily life and industry as it provides clean energy production with no harmful conditions to nature. Examples of use in different areas can be seen below.

Lighters are the most common products. There is a piezo element in the area used for ignition of the gas. Apart from this, piezoelectricity is also used in transmitting the microphones to the speaker by increasing the pressure coming from the sound waves. With the same logic, it is also used in depth finder sonar systems and jewelry cleaner ultrasonic cleaning machines. Each pressing-pulling action of the piezoelectric discs enables approximately 2 milliwatts of energy to be produced in these discs. These sensors can be adapted to many musical instruments such as guitars and drums.

Piezoelectric materials have important applications in the automotive industry. There are also piezoelectric applications in vehicles, fuel injection systems, noise and vibration reduction, gauge monitoring control, tire pressure control, airbag sensors, air flow sensors, alarms, fuel jets, seat belt alerts and parking sensors. Sensors used as knock sensors in the engines of the vehicles are the best example for the automotive piezoelectric vibration sensor application.

An actuator, also called a trigger or actuator, is a motor that controls or moves a mechanism, mechanical or electronic system. Piezoelectric actuators are a kind of electric motor that can control the electrical signal, convert it to a physical displacement. Piezoelectric actuators are used in calibration works that require high precision because of their high precision. Piezo actuators can be used to control hydraulic valves, as a small volume pump, as a special purpose motor, or to move any system.

Disk drives, inkjet printers

Ultrasonic welding and cutting machines used in the production of disposable patient monitors, ultrasonic imaging, ultrasonic masks and gowns

Depth sensors, guidance systems, hydrophone, sonar systems