PZT-2
PZT-2 is a hard lead zirconate titanate (Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ perovskite) piezoelectric ceramic with moderate electromechanical coupling, held on file in poled, unpoled and hot-pressed conditions.
Reference datasheet — PZT-2 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
PZT-2 tempers and conditions
PZT-2 is supplied in one standard condition, HP.
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PZT-2 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
POLEDDefault | Sintered and DC-poled piezoelectric element | Surface finish |
UNPOLED | Sintered ceramic before poling | Surface finish |
What is PZT-2?
PZT-2 is a hard lead zirconate titanate (Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ perovskite) piezoelectric ceramic with moderate electromechanical coupling, held on file in poled, unpoled and hot-pressed conditions. It is specified where a stiff, low-loss element is needed in igniters and specialty sensors, and is supplied as discs, rings, plates and small stacks with fired-on silver electrodes. Elastic modulus is about 86 GPa and maximum service temperature about 185 °C; the ceramic is brittle, lead-bearing, and depoles if overheated or driven with a reverse field. It is less commonly stocked today than PZT-4 or PZT-8, which are the usual substitutes. PZT-2 has a density of 7.6 g/cm³ (0.275 lb/in³), heavier than 74% of ceramic grades. PZT-2 has a tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi), weaker than 56% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 86 GPa (12.5 Msi).
What is PZT-2 used for?
- Piezo igniters
- Gas-appliance spark generators
- Specialty force and pressure sensors
- Ultrasonic transducer discs
- Accelerometer sensing elements
- Replacement elements for legacy sensor designs
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 4.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 78% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 1.2 W/m·K (0.693 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 97% of ceramic grades
- Low fracture toughness — 0.9 MPa·√m (0.819 ksi·√in), worse than 96% of ceramic grades
- Limited service temperature — 185°C (365 °F), worse than 86% of ceramic grades
- Low stiffness — 86 GPa (12.5 Msi), worse than 76% of ceramic grades
PZT-2 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical2
PZT-2 has a density of 7.6 g/cm³ (0.275 lb/in³), heavier than 74% of ceramic grades.
Mechanical10
PZT-2 has a tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi), weaker than 56% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 86 GPa (12.5 Msi).
Thermal5
PZT-2 is rated for continuous service to 185°C (365 °F). It conducts heat at 1.2 W/m·K (0.693 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 97% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 4 µm/m·K (2.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
PZT-2 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 4 kV/mm (101.6 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10⁹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), worse than 59% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PZT-2 takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 4.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 78% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability3
PZT-2's machinability is not recommended (8/100, better than 69% of ceramic grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the ceramic family
Yield strength against density for every ceramic grade FabDigit runs. PZT-2 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PZT-2
Is PZT-2 easy to machine?
Diamond grinding, lapping and wafer dicing only after firing; chipping-prone, keep coolant flowing and dust captured (lead hazard).
Can PZT-2 be welded?
Not weldable — join by conductive epoxy, solder to fired-on Ag electrodes below ~250 °C, or mechanically clamp/preload.
Can PZT-2 be formed, bent or molded?
Shaped green by dry/isostatic pressing or tape casting, calcined then sintered ~1200–1300 °C in PbO-rich atmosphere to limit lead loss.
PZT-2 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Pbas PbO; slight PbO excess added to offset volatilization | 61 – 65 | 63.5 |
| Zras ZrO₂, Zr/Ti near the morphotropic phase boundary | 13.5 – 15.5 | 14.6 |
| Tias TiO₂ | 6.5 – 7.8 | 7.1 |
| acceptor/donor dopants (Nb, Sr, Fe, Mn oproprietary dopant package setting Qm, K and tan δ | 0.1 – 1.5 | 0.6 |
| Operovskite ABO₃ oxygen | balance |
What surface finishes work on PZT-2?
Fired-on silver or sputtered Cr/Ni-Au electrodes, then DC poling (~2 kV/mm, 100–150 °C in oil) followed by 24 h aging stabilization.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PZT-2 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- Navy Type IV
How much does PZT-2 cost?
PZT-2 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PZT-2 — frequently asked
What is PZT-2 used for?
PZT-2 is typically used for piezo igniters, gas-appliance spark generators, specialty force and pressure sensors, ultrasonic transducer discs, accelerometer sensing elements and replacement elements for legacy sensor designs. In short: hard PZT, moderate coupling; legacy igniter and sensor grade; largely superseded by PZT-4/8.
What is the tensile strength of PZT-2?
PZT-2 has a typical tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) — weaker than 56% of ceramic grades.
Is PZT-2 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (8/100, better than 69% of ceramic grades). Diamond grinding, lapping and wafer dicing only after firing; chipping-prone, keep coolant flowing and dust captured (lead hazard).
Can PZT-2 be welded?
Not weldable — join by conductive epoxy, solder to fired-on Ag electrodes below ~250 °C, or mechanically clamp/preload.
What surface finishes work on PZT-2?
Fired-on silver or sputtered Cr/Ni-Au electrodes, then DC poling (~2 kV/mm, 100–150 °C in oil) followed by 24 h aging stabilization.
Can PZT-2 be formed, bent or molded?
Shaped green by dry/isostatic pressing or tape casting, calcined then sintered ~1200–1300 °C in PbO-rich atmosphere to limit lead loss.
What is the maximum service temperature of PZT-2?
PZT-2 is rated for continuous use to about 185°C (365 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PZT-2 cost?
PZT-2 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- Vernitron/Clevite PZT Piezoelectric Ceramics bulletin (PZT-2/-4/-5A/-8 data) — Vernitron Piezoelectric Division (1976)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 4 — Ceramics and Glasses (piezoelectric ceramics) — ASM International (1991)
- MIL-STD-1376B — Piezoelectric Ceramic Material and Measurements Guidelines for Sonar Transducers — US DoD (1995)
- IEEE 176 — Standard on Piezoelectricity — IEEE (1987)
- Piezoelectric ceramic property comparison tables (PZT hard/soft families) — APC International / Morgan Advanced Materials (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.