Aging effects on resonance frequency of Pb(Ti 0.52 Zr 0.48 )O 3 piezoelectric ceramics for power ultrasonic transducers

The time-dependent resonance frequency at different heating temperatures was studied for the Pb(Ti0.52Zr0.48)O3 widely applied to power ultrasonic transducers. The prediction model for the changes of resonance frequency (Δfs) was developed using the response surface methodology based on central composite design. The results of significance and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests have proved that the prediction model has an adequate approximation to the actual values. An evaluation of the interaction effects of temperature and time parameters, heating temperature (Tc), heating time (Tt), and aging time (ta) revealed a decreasing tendency towards the resonant frequency. As the Tc is increased, the Δfs shows three regions with different variation tendency. The Δfs is slightly decreased with increasing Tt and has slow-motion escalating trend with increasing ta. The irreparability variation of resonant frequency revealed in response surface plots shows that Tc and Tt have significant effects on the piezoelectric properties of Pb(Ti0.52Zr0.48)O3. The study of aging effects on resonance frequency at different temperatures could open a road to promote the practical application of PZT-based ceramics automatic tuning.