Investigation of High-Power Properties of (Bi,Na,Ba)TiO3 and (Sr,Ca)2NaNb5O15 Piezoelectric Ceramics

We investigated why the nonlinear behaviors of (Bi,Na,Ba)(Ti,Mn)O3 (BNBTM) ceramics and (Sr,Ca)2NaNb5O15 (SCNN) ceramics occur in comparison with Pb(Zr,Ti)O3-based (PZT) ceramics by evaluating their high-power properties with the distinction between mechanical nonlinearity and temperature dependence of properties. The equivalent stiffness of PZT decreased with increasing vibration velocity and sample temperature. However, the equivalent stiffnesses of BNBTM and SCNN did not depend on vibration velocity, they decreased and increased linearly with an increase in sample temperature, respectively. The nonlinear behavior of PZT originated from the soft-spring effect through which the mechanical nonlinearity was induced and the temperature dependence of stiffness was enhanced. On the other hand, it appeared that the nonlinear behaviors of BNBTM and SCNN originated from the apparent soft- and hard-spring effects through which the temperature dependence of stiffness was induced. The temperature characteristic of elasticity is important for controlling the high-power properties.