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PZT-5H 5H2

Grade

5H2 = 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.

High cost $$$$

Values for the 5H2 condition

Other PZT-5H tempers and conditions

PZT-5H is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at PZT-5H.

Compare all 4 conditionsHide
Condition · open for datasheetBest forYield MPaTensile MPaElong. %HardnessConductivity
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 HV2 W/m·K
5H2This page
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 HV1 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 HV1 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 HV2 W/m·K

What is PZT-5H 5H2?

PZT-5H 5H2 is PZT-5H in the 5H2 grade — maximum charge sensitivity and strain per volt for micro-positioning and low-voltage actuators; accept higher loss, self-heating and stronger temperature drift. PZT-5H 5H2 has a tensile strength of 72 MPa (10.4 ksi), weaker than 57% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 55 GPa (7.98 Msi). PZT-5H 5H2 has a density of 7.5 g/cm³ (0.271 lb/in³), heavier than 73% of ceramic grades.

Limitations

  • Limited service temperature — 85°C (185 °F), worse than 99% of ceramic grades
  • Low fracture toughness — 0.85 MPa·√m (0.774 ksi·√in), worse than 98% of ceramic grades
  • Poor heat conductor — 1.2 W/m·K (0.693 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 97% of ceramic grades
  • Low stiffness — 55 GPa (7.98 Msi), worse than 83% of ceramic grades
  • Hard to polish — 60/100, worse than 79% of ceramic grades

PZT-5H 5H2 properties

Typical room-temperature values for PZT-5H 5H2; 15 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are PZT-5H reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among ceramic grades.

Physical2

PZT-5H 5H2 has a density of 7.5 g/cm³ (0.271 lb/in³), heavier than 73% of ceramic grades.

Density7.5 g/cm³0.27 lb/in³
Porosity1.5%

Mechanical10

PZT-5H 5H2 has a tensile strength of 72 MPa (10.4 ksi), weaker than 57% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 55 GPa (7.98 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus55 GPa8 Msi
Shear Modulus23 GPa3.3 Msi
Bulk Modulus60 GPa8.7 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.33
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)72 MPa10.4 ksi
Compressive Strength530 MPa76.9 ksi
Flexural Strength76 MPa11 ksi
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)0.85 MPa·√m0.77 ksi·√in
Hardness, Vickers305 HV
Hardness, Knoop300 HK

Thermal5

PZT-5H 5H2 is rated for continuous service to 85°C (185 °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).

Thermal Conductivity1.2 W/m·K0.69 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity350 J/kg·K0.08 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)4 µm/m·K2.2 µin/in·°F
Max Service Temperature (continuous)85°C185 °F
Min Service Temperature-50°C-58 °F

Electrical5

PZT-5H 5H2 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 3 kV/mm (76.2 V/mil) and a resistivity of 5×10⁸ Ω·m.

Electrical Resistivity5×10⁸ Ω·m1.97×10¹⁶ µΩ·in
Dielectric Strength3 kV/mm76.2 V/mil
Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)4,000
Dissipation Factor (1 MHz)0.028
Volume Resistivity1×10¹¹ Ω·cm

Chemical & Environmental2

Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), worse than 59% of ceramic grades.

Corrosion ResistanceVery good70/100
Chemical Resistance SummaryStable in water, oils and neutral atmospheres; dissolved/leached by mineral acids (HCl, HNO₃, HF) and attacked by hot strong alkalis. Lead-bearing — plating/etching baths and PbO volatilisation above ~1000 °C require containment; RoHS exemption applies to piezo use.

Sustainability3

Producing a kilogram of PZT-5H 5H2 takes about 95 MJ of energy and emits 6.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 57% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)95 MJ/kg40,843 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)6.5 kg CO₂/kg
Typical Recycled Content5%

Manufacturability3

PZT-5H 5H2's machinability is not recommended (6/100, better than 61% of ceramic grades).

MachinabilityNot recommended6/100
PolishabilityGood60/100
Sintering / Firing Temperature1,250°C2,282 °F

Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.

Working with PZT-5H 5H2

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.

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.

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.

ElementSpec limit (wt %)Nominal
Pbas PbO; slight PbO excess added to compensate volatilisation60 – 64.563
ZrZr/Ti near the morphotropic phase boundary (~52/48)13 – 15.514.5
Ti6 – 87
Nbdonor dopant (Nb₂O₅) giving the 'soft' behaviour; Sb/La may substitute0.5 – 21.2
SrA-site substitution used to raise permittivity / lower Tc0 – 1.50.6
Operovskite ABO₃ oxygen balancebalance—

PZT-5H 5H2 — frequently asked

What is PZT-5H 5H2 used for?

PZT-5H 5H2 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 5H2?

PZT-5H 5H2 has a typical tensile strength of 72 MPa (10.4 ksi) — weaker than 57% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.

Is PZT-5H 5H2 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 5H2 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 5H2?

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 5H2 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 5H2?

PZT-5H 5H2 is rated for continuous use to about 85°C (185 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.

Sources

  1. IEEE Std 176 — Standard on Piezoelectricity — IEEE (1987)
  2. MIL-STD-1376B — Piezoelectric Ceramic Material and Measurements Guidelines (Navy Type VI) — US DoD (1995)
  3. APC 850/855 & Navy Type VI piezoceramic property tables — APC International (2023)
  4. PZT5H / PZT5H1 / PZT5H2 piezoelectric ceramic data — Morgan Advanced Materials (Electro Ceramics) (2022)
  5. PIC 255 / PIC 255-type soft PZT material data — PI Ceramic GmbH (2023)
  6. 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.