SHAPE EFFECT ON PERFORMANCE OF MULTILAYER CERAMIC ACTUATOR

In the present study, the piezoelectricity and polarization of multilayer ceramic actuator, being designed to stack PMN-PZ-PT ceramic layers and Ag-Pd electrode layers alternatively, were investigated under a consideration of geometric factor, the volume ratio of the ceramic to the electrode layers. The actuators were fabricated by tape casting of $0.2Pb(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3)O_3-0.38PbZrO_3-0,42PbTiO_3$ followed by lamination and burnout & co-firing processes. The actuators of $10\times10\times0.6~2\textrm{mm}^3$ in size were formed in a way that $60 ~ 200\mu\textrm{m}$ thick were stacked alternatively with $5\mu\textrm{m}$ thick electrode layer. Increases in polarization and electric field-induced displacement with thickness of the ceramic layer were attributed to change of $90^{\circ}$/$180^{\circ}$ domain ratio, which was affected by interlayer internal stress. The piezoelectricity and actuation behaviors were found to depend upon the volume ratio (or thickness ratio) of ceramic to electrode layers.