PZT-5H
PZT-5H is a soft, donor-doped lead zirconate titanate with the largest piezoelectric coefficients of the PZT family, supplied in standard, 5H1, 5H2, hot-pressed and multilayer (MLC) conditions.
Reference datasheet — PZT-5H 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-5H tempers and conditions
PZT-5H is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tape-cast / co-fired multilayer PZT-5H | For low-voltage multilayer actuators and MLA stacks: 20–100 µm layers co-fired with internal electrodes, driven at tens of volts instead of kilovolts. | 65 | 320 HV | 2 W/m·K | ||
Ultra-high permittivity / ultra-high d₃₃ PZT-5H | Maximum charge sensitivity and strain per volt for micro-positioning and low-voltage actuators; accept higher loss, self-heating and stronger temperature drift. | 72 | 305 HV | 1 W/m·K | ||
Stabilised high-sensitivity PZT-5H | Pick when high d₃₃ is needed but dielectric loss, ageing rate and temperature drift must be tighter than standard 5H. | 78 | 330 HV | 1 W/m·K | ||
Hot-pressed / fine-grain high-density PZT-5H | Choose for thin plates, high-frequency array elements and mechanically loaded stacks where near-zero porosity and higher strength matter. | 100 | 380 HV | 2 W/m·K |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PZT-5H is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
STDDefault | Standard pressed & sintered PZT-5H | Standard supply |
What is PZT-5H?
PZT-5H is a soft, donor-doped lead zirconate titanate with the largest piezoelectric coefficients of the PZT family, supplied in standard, 5H1, 5H2, hot-pressed and multilayer (MLC) conditions. It is specified for receive-mode and fine-motion work such as medical ultrasound, sensors and micro-positioners, as discs, plates, diced arrays and multilayer stacks, with a density of 7.5 g/cm³ and elastic modulus of 60 GPa. Dielectric loss is higher and the Curie point lower than hard grades, so maximum service temperature is 95 °C and it is unsuitable for high-power continuous drive. PZT-5A is the alternative where lower loss and better temperature stability are needed. PZT-5H has a density of 7.5 g/cm³ (0.271 lb/in³), heavier than 73% of ceramic grades. PZT-5H has a tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi), weaker than 56% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 60 GPa (8.7 Msi).
What is PZT-5H used for?
- medical ultrasound transducers
- accelerometers
- micro-positioners
- acoustic emission sensors
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 95°C (203 °F), worse than 97% of ceramic grades
- Low fracture toughness — 0.9 MPa·√m (0.819 ksi·√in), worse than 96% of ceramic grades
- Poor heat conductor — 1.3 W/m·K (0.722 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 95% of ceramic grades
- Low stiffness — 60 GPa (8.7 Msi), worse than 83% of ceramic grades
- Hard to polish — 60/100, worse than 79% of ceramic grades
PZT-5H properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical2
PZT-5H has a density of 7.5 g/cm³ (0.271 lb/in³), heavier than 73% of ceramic grades.
Mechanical10
PZT-5H has a tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi), weaker than 56% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 60 GPa (8.7 Msi).
Thermal5
PZT-5H is rated for continuous service to 95°C (203 °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-5H is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 3 kV/mm (76.2 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.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of PZT-5H takes about 95 MJ of energy and emits 6.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 57% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability3
PZT-5H's machinability is not recommended (6/100, better than 61% 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-5H is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PZT-5H
Is PZT-5H easy to machine?
Green machining before sintering is preferred; fired parts require diamond grinding, dicing or ultrasonic machining with coolant, and grinding heat/stress can locally depolarise the material.
Can PZT-5H be welded?
Not weldable — parts are joined by conductive epoxy, solder to fired-on Ag electrodes (short dwell, <230 °C) or brazed/bonded metal end-caps.
Can PZT-5H be formed, bent or molded?
Dry pressing, isostatic pressing, extrusion or tape casting of Nb-doped PZT powder, sintered ~1180–1300 °C in a PbO-rich atmosphere, then electroded and DC poled at 1.5–2 kV/mm above room temperature.
PZT-5H 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 compensate volatilisation | 60 – 64.5 | 63 |
| ZrZr/Ti near the morphotropic phase boundary (~52/48) | 13 – 15.5 | 14.5 |
| Ti | 6 – 8 | 7 |
| Nbdonor dopant (Nb₂O₅) giving the 'soft' behaviour; Sb/La may substitute | 0.5 – 2 | 1.2 |
| SrA-site substitution used to raise permittivity / lower Tc | 0 – 1.5 | 0.6 |
| Operovskite ABO₃ oxygen balance | balance |
What surface finishes work on PZT-5H?
Lap/polish faces flat, then screen-printed fired silver, sputtered Ni/Cr–Au or electroless Ni electrodes; keep all post-poling processes below ~½ Tc (≈95 °C) to avoid depolarisation.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PZT-5H in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- Navy Type VI
How much does PZT-5H cost?
PZT-5H is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PZT-5H — frequently asked
What is PZT-5H used for?
PZT-5H is typically used for medical ultrasound transducers, accelerometers, micro-positioners and acoustic emission sensors. In short: highest piezoelectric coefficients; soft, high-sensitivity receiver grade; low Curie point limit.
What is the tensile strength of PZT-5H?
PZT-5H has a typical tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) — weaker than 56% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is PZT-5H easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (6/100, better than 61% of ceramic grades). Green machining before sintering is preferred; fired parts require diamond grinding, dicing or ultrasonic machining with coolant, and grinding heat/stress can locally depolarise the material.
Can PZT-5H be welded?
Not weldable — parts are joined by conductive epoxy, solder to fired-on Ag electrodes (short dwell, <230 °C) or brazed/bonded metal end-caps.
What surface finishes work on PZT-5H?
Lap/polish faces flat, then screen-printed fired silver, sputtered Ni/Cr–Au or electroless Ni electrodes; keep all post-poling processes below ~½ Tc (≈95 °C) to avoid depolarisation.
Can PZT-5H be formed, bent or molded?
Dry pressing, isostatic pressing, extrusion or tape casting of Nb-doped PZT powder, sintered ~1180–1300 °C in a PbO-rich atmosphere, then electroded and DC poled at 1.5–2 kV/mm above room temperature.
What is the maximum service temperature of PZT-5H?
PZT-5H is rated for continuous use to about 95°C (203 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PZT-5H cost?
PZT-5H is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), 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 (Navy Type VI) — US DoD (1995)
- APC 850/855 & Navy Type VI piezoceramic property tables — APC International (2023)
- PZT5H / PZT5H1 / PZT5H2 piezoelectric ceramic data — Morgan Advanced Materials (Electro Ceramics) (2022)
- PIC 255 / PIC 255-type soft PZT material data — PI Ceramic GmbH (2023)
- 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.