PZT-4
PZT-4 is a hard, acceptor-doped lead zirconate titanate piezoceramic supplied in Navy Type I, 4D and hot-pressed conditions, with high mechanical Q and low dielectric loss.
Reference datasheet — PZT-4 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.
Values for the NAVY-I condition
PZT-4 tempers and conditions
PZT-4 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. NAVY-I is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NAVY-IDefault Navy Type I | Default choice for high-power ultrasonic and sonar transducers: Qm ≈ 500, d33 ≈ 290 pC/N, low loss under high drive. | 75 | 0.1 | 320 HV | 1 W/m·K | |
PZT-4D | Pick when a Navy-I-class hard material is needed but with more output/lower drive voltage; Qm drops somewhat versus standard PZT-4. | 75 | 0.1 | 310 HV | 1 W/m·K | |
Hot-pressed / high-density PZT-4 | Use where near-zero porosity, higher strength and better uniformity are required (deep-submergence sonar rings, high stress prestressed stacks). | 95 | 0.1 | 350 HV | 1 W/m·K |
What is PZT-4?
PZT-4 is a hard, acceptor-doped lead zirconate titanate piezoceramic supplied in Navy Type I, 4D and hot-pressed conditions, with high mechanical Q and low dielectric loss. Engineers use it for high-power ultrasonic and sonar drive elements, typically as rings, discs, plates and tubes in prestressed stacks, where self-heating must stay low. Density is 7.5 g/cm³ and maximum service temperature 160 °C; exposure above that, or to high field or tensile stress, causes depoling. PZT-8 is the alternative for still higher drive levels, PZT-5H where receive sensitivity matters more. PZT-4 has a density of 7.5 g/cm³ (0.271 lb/in³), heavier than 73% of ceramic grades. PZT-4 has a tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi), weaker than 56% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0.1% and the elastic modulus is 70 GPa (10.2 Msi).
What is PZT-4 used for?
- sonar transducers
- ultrasonic cleaning/welding transducers
- high-power actuators
- NDT probes
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 1.3 W/m·K (0.722 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 95% of ceramic grades
- Limited service temperature — 160°C (320 °F), worse than 88% of ceramic grades
- Low fracture toughness — 1 MPa·√m (0.91 ksi·√in), worse than 84% of ceramic grades
- Low stiffness — 70 GPa (10.2 Msi), worse than 79% of ceramic grades
PZT-4 properties
Typical room-temperature values for PZT-4-NAVY-I; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical2
PZT-4 has a density of 7.5 g/cm³ (0.271 lb/in³), heavier than 73% of ceramic grades.
Mechanical13
PZT-4 has a tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi), weaker than 56% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0.1% and the elastic modulus is 70 GPa (10.2 Msi).
Thermal5
PZT-4 is rated for continuous service to 160°C (320 °F). It conducts heat at 1.3 W/m·K (0.722 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 95% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 4 µm/m·K (2.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
PZT-4 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 10 kV/mm (254 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), worse than 67% of ceramic grades.
Manufacturability3
PZT-4's machinability is not recommended (12/100, better than 78% 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-4 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PZT-4
Is PZT-4 easy to machine?
Green machining is preferred; fired parts only by diamond grinding, lapping, ultrasonic or laser cutting with coolant, keeping the part below ~150 °C to avoid depoling.
Can PZT-4 be welded?
Not weldable — electrodes are fired-on silver or sputtered Ni/Au and are attached with low-temperature solder (<230 °C, brief) or conductive epoxy; stacks are usually bonded or mechanically prestressed.
Can PZT-4 be formed, bent or molded?
Dry pressing, isostatic pressing or tape casting of doped PZT powder, binder burnout, sintering ~1250–1300 °C in a PbO-rich sealed setter, then DC poling at roughly 2–3 kV/mm above 100 °C.
PZT-4 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 in Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 perovskite; slight PbO excess used to suppress volatilisation | 60 – 65 | 63.5 |
| ZrZr/Ti ≈ 52/48, near morphotropic phase boundary | 13 – 16 | 14.6 |
| Ti | 6 – 8 | 7.1 |
| Feacceptor dopant (as Fe2O3) giving the 'hard' high-Qm behaviour | 0.1 – 0.8 | 0.3 |
| Sroptional A-site substitution used by some producers to tune Tc/K | 0 – 1.5 | 0.5 |
| Operovskite oxygen, ≈14.7 wt % | balance |
What surface finishes work on PZT-4?
Lap electrode faces flat and parallel, apply fired silver or sputtered electrodes, then age at least 24 h before final property measurement; avoid acidic cleaners and mechanical shock.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PZT-4 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- Navy Type I
How much does PZT-4 cost?
PZT-4 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PZT-4 — frequently asked
What is PZT-4 used for?
PZT-4 is typically used for sonar transducers, ultrasonic cleaning/welding transducers, high-power actuators and NDT probes. In short: hard high-power piezoceramic; high mechanical Q; navy Type I equivalent.
What is the tensile strength of PZT-4?
PZT-4 has a typical tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) — weaker than 56% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is PZT-4 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (12/100, better than 78% of ceramic grades). Green machining is preferred; fired parts only by diamond grinding, lapping, ultrasonic or laser cutting with coolant, keeping the part below ~150 °C to avoid depoling.
Can PZT-4 be welded?
Not weldable — electrodes are fired-on silver or sputtered Ni/Au and are attached with low-temperature solder (<230 °C, brief) or conductive epoxy; stacks are usually bonded or mechanically prestressed.
What surface finishes work on PZT-4?
Lap electrode faces flat and parallel, apply fired silver or sputtered electrodes, then age at least 24 h before final property measurement; avoid acidic cleaners and mechanical shock.
Can PZT-4 be formed, bent or molded?
Dry pressing, isostatic pressing or tape casting of doped PZT powder, binder burnout, sintering ~1250–1300 °C in a PbO-rich sealed setter, then DC poling at roughly 2–3 kV/mm above 100 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of PZT-4?
PZT-4 is rated for continuous use to about 160°C (320 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PZT-4 cost?
PZT-4 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), 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
- IEEE Std 176 — Standard on Piezoelectricity — IEEE (1987)
- MIL-STD-1376B — Piezoelectric Ceramic Material and Measurements Guidelines for Sonar Transducers — US DoD (1995)
- Hard PZT (Navy Type I) piezoceramic property sheets — Morgan Advanced Materials / APC International / Channel Industries (2022)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 4: Ceramics and Glasses — piezoelectric ceramics — ASM International (1991)
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.