A complete range of tape-cast piezoelectric thick films for high frequency ultrasonic transducers

Tape casting technology has been used to produce stand-alone thick films (i.e. 65 to 200 micrometers) of piezoceramics with net final shape for high frequency ultrasonic transducer applications. Four commercially available powder compositions (Pz21, Pz27, Pz29 and Pz34 from Ferroperm piezoceramics) were used. Tape casting technology is first described. The samples are characterized using electrical impedance measurements. Bulk samples of the same compositions are also characterized by a similar method. Electromechanical constants are compared and shown to deliver similar performance. Finally, high frequency transducer simulations (35 MHz) are performed with tape-cast sample values to evaluate performance for medical imaging applications.