PZT-4 NAVY-I
Grade · default condition
NAVY-I = navy Type I
Default choice for high-power ultrasonic and sonar transducers: Qm ≈ 500, d33 ≈ 290 pC/N, low loss under high drive.
Values for the NAVY-I condition
Other PZT-4 tempers and conditions
PZT-4 is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at PZT-4.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NAVY-IDefaultThis page 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 NAVY-I?
PZT-4 NAVY-I is PZT-4 in the NAVY-I grade — default choice for high-power ultrasonic and sonar transducers: Qm ≈ 500, d33 ≈ 290 pC/N, low loss under high drive. PZT-4 NAVY-I 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). PZT-4 NAVY-I has a density of 7.5 g/cm³ (0.271 lb/in³), heavier than 73% of ceramic grades.
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 NAVY-I properties
Typical room-temperature values for PZT-4 NAVY-I; 16 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are PZT-4 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical2
PZT-4 NAVY-I has a density of 7.5 g/cm³ (0.271 lb/in³), heavier than 73% of ceramic grades.
Mechanical13
PZT-4 NAVY-I 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 NAVY-I 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 NAVY-I 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 NAVY-I's machinability is not recommended (12/100, better than 78% of ceramic grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with PZT-4 NAVY-I
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.
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.
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 | — |
PZT-4 NAVY-I — frequently asked
What is PZT-4 NAVY-I used for?
PZT-4 NAVY-I 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 NAVY-I?
PZT-4 NAVY-I 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 NAVY-I 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 NAVY-I 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 NAVY-I?
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 NAVY-I 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 NAVY-I?
PZT-4 NAVY-I 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.