PZT-8
PZT-8 is the hardest lead zirconate titanate grade in this family, available sintered (SINT) or hot pressed (HP), with the lowest mechanical loss and therefore the least self-heating under continuous drive.
Reference datasheet — PZT-8 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 SINT condition
PZT-8 tempers and conditions
PZT-8 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. SINT is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hot-pressed / high-density fine-grain PZT-8 | Choose when near-zero porosity, higher strength and better high-drive stability are needed (deep-submergence sonar, very high stress prestressed stacks). | 40 | 380 HV | — | ||
SINTDefault Sintered | Standard commercial PZT-8 discs, rings and plates for Langevin stacks and power ultrasonic transducers. | 350 HV | — |
What is PZT-8?
PZT-8 is the hardest lead zirconate titanate grade in this family, available sintered (SINT) or hot pressed (HP), with the lowest mechanical loss and therefore the least self-heating under continuous drive. It is used for the highest-power ultrasonic and sonar elements, generally as rings, discs and plates in prestressed Langevin stacks, at a density of 7.6 g/cm³ and a maximum service temperature of 150 °C. Piezoelectric coefficients are lower than PZT-4 and much lower than PZT-5H, so it is a poor choice for receive-only sensors. Use PZT-4 when more output per volt is needed at moderate duty. PZT-8 has a density of 7.6 g/cm³ (0.275 lb/in³), heavier than 74% of ceramic grades. PZT-8 has a tensile strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi), weaker than 77% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 87 GPa (12.6 Msi).
What is PZT-8 used for?
- high-power sonar arrays
- ultrasonic welding horns
- power transducers
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 1.2 W/m·K (0.693 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 97% of ceramic grades
- Limited service temperature — 150°C (302 °F), worse than 90% of ceramic grades
- Low fracture toughness — 1 MPa·√m (0.91 ksi·√in), worse than 84% of ceramic grades
- Low stiffness — 87 GPa (12.6 Msi), worse than 75% of ceramic grades
PZT-8 properties
Typical room-temperature values for PZT-8-SINT; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical2
PZT-8 has a density of 7.6 g/cm³ (0.275 lb/in³), heavier than 74% of ceramic grades.
Mechanical10
PZT-8 has a tensile strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi), weaker than 77% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 87 GPa (12.6 Msi).
Thermal5
PZT-8 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °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-8 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 4 kV/mm (101.6 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹¹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), worse than 59% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of PZT-8 takes about 90 MJ of energy and emits 7 kg of CO₂ — less than 62% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability3
PZT-8'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-8 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PZT-8
Is PZT-8 easy to machine?
Green machining is preferred; fired parts require diamond grinding, lapping or ultrasonic/laser machining with copious coolant — keep grinding temperature and applied field low to avoid local depoling.
Can PZT-8 be welded?
Not weldable; electrodes are fired silver or sputtered Cr/Ni-Au, joined by low-temperature solder (<230 °C, short dwell) or conductive epoxy to avoid depoling.
Can PZT-8 be formed, bent or molded?
Dry/isostatic pressing or tape casting of calcined PZT powder, sintered ~1200–1300 °C in a PbO-rich atmosphere in sealed crucibles to control lead volatilisation.
PZT-8 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 compensate volatilisation | 61 – 65 | 63.5 |
| ZrZr/Ti near morphotropic phase boundary, ~52/48 | 13 – 16 | 14.6 |
| Ti | 6 – 8.5 | 7.1 |
| Mnacceptor dopant giving domain pinning, high Qm and low tan δ | 0.1 – 0.6 | 0.3 |
| Feco-acceptor dopant typical of Navy III 'hard' formulations | 0 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Obalance as perovskite oxygen (~14.5 wt %) | balance |
What surface finishes work on PZT-8?
Lap to thickness and parallelism, electrode, then DC pole (~2–3 kV/mm in oil at 100–150 °C) and age at least 24 h before parameter measurement.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PZT-8 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- Navy Type III
How much does PZT-8 cost?
PZT-8 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PZT-8 — frequently asked
What is PZT-8 used for?
PZT-8 is typically used for high-power sonar arrays, ultrasonic welding horns and power transducers. In short: lowest loss PZT grade; highest continuous power handling; hardest PZT formulation.
What is the tensile strength of PZT-8?
PZT-8 has a typical tensile strength of 30 MPa (4.35 ksi) — weaker than 77% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is PZT-8 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (8/100, better than 69% of ceramic grades). Green machining is preferred; fired parts require diamond grinding, lapping or ultrasonic/laser machining with copious coolant — keep grinding temperature and applied field low to avoid local depoling.
Can PZT-8 be welded?
Not weldable; electrodes are fired silver or sputtered Cr/Ni-Au, joined by low-temperature solder (<230 °C, short dwell) or conductive epoxy to avoid depoling.
What surface finishes work on PZT-8?
Lap to thickness and parallelism, electrode, then DC pole (~2–3 kV/mm in oil at 100–150 °C) and age at least 24 h before parameter measurement.
Can PZT-8 be formed, bent or molded?
Dry/isostatic pressing or tape casting of calcined PZT powder, sintered ~1200–1300 °C in a PbO-rich atmosphere in sealed crucibles to control lead volatilisation.
What is the maximum service temperature of PZT-8?
PZT-8 is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PZT-8 cost?
PZT-8 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), 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 (Navy Type III) — US DoD (1995)
- APC 880 hard PZT material properties — APC International (2023)
- PZT-8 / Channel 5800 piezoelectric ceramic data — CTS / Channel Technologies (2022)
- Pz26 hard piezoceramic datasheet (PZT-8 equivalent) — CTS Ferroperm Piezoceramics (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.