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PZT · print state · default condition

PZT Sintered

Properties of the Sintered condition, compared with the other PZT tempers.

Default general-purpose soft PZT blank for sensors, receivers and low-power actuators.

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What is PZT Sintered?

PZT Sintered is PZT in the Sintered condition — default general-purpose soft PZT blank for sensors, receivers and low-power actuators. PZT Sintered has a tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi), weaker than 57% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 61 GPa (8.85 Msi). PZT Sintered has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), heavier than 76% of ceramic grades.

Limitations

  • Poor heat conductor — 1.3 W/m·K (0.751 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 94% of ceramic grades
  • Limited service temperature — 175°C (347 °F), worse than 87% of ceramic grades
  • Low fracture toughness — 1 MPa·√m (0.91 ksi·√in), worse than 85% of ceramic grades
  • Low stiffness — 61 GPa (8.85 Msi), worse than 83% of ceramic grades
  • Heavy — 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), worse than 76% of ceramic grades

PZT Sintered properties

Typical room-temperature values for PZT Sintered — 8 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every PZT temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the ceramic grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.

Physical2

PZT Sintered has a density of 7.75 g/cm³ (0.28 lb/in³), heavier than 76% of ceramic grades.

Density7.75 g/cm³0.28 lb/in³
Porosity1%

Mechanical11

PZT Sintered has a tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi), weaker than 57% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 61 GPa (8.85 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus61 GPa8.8 Msi
Shear Modulus23 GPa3.3 Msi
Bulk Modulus55 GPa8 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.31
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)75 MPa10.9 ksi
Compressive Strength600 MPa87 ksi
Flexural Strength85 MPa12.3 ksi
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)1 MPa·√m0.91 ksi·√in
Hardness, Vickers350 HV
Hardness, Knoop330 HK
Hardness, Mohs5

Thermal5

PZT Sintered is rated for continuous service to 175°C (347 °F). It conducts heat at 1.3 W/m·K (0.751 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 94% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 4 µm/m·K (2.22 µin/in·°F).

Thermal Conductivity1.3 W/m·K0.75 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity380 J/kg·K0.09 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)4 µm/m·K2.2 µin/in·°F
Max Service Temperature (continuous)175°C347 °F
Min Service Temperature-50°C-58 °F

Electrical5

PZT Sintered is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 5 kV/mm (127 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁰ Ω·m.

Electrical Resistivity1×10¹⁰ Ω·m3.94×10¹⁷ µΩ·in
Dielectric Strength5 kV/mm127 V/mil
Dielectric Constant (1 MHz)1,700
Dissipation Factor (1 MHz)0.02
Volume Resistivity1×10¹² Ω·cm

Chemical & Environmental2

Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), worse than 71% of ceramic grades.

Corrosion ResistanceGood60/100
Chemical Resistance SummaryStable in water, humid air and most organics; dissolved/leached by strong mineral acids (HCl, HNO₃, HF) and attacked by hot alkalis; lead loss occurs above ~800 °C in reducing atmospheres.

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of PZT Sintered takes about 70 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 70% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)70 MJ/kg30,095 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)5.5 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water60 L/kg7.2 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content5%

Manufacturability3

PZT Sintered's machinability is not recommended (8/100, better than 70% of ceramic grades).

MachinabilityNot recommended8/100
PolishabilityVery good70/100
Sintering / Firing Temperature1,250°C2,282 °F

Common Calculations4

Specific Strength (UTS / density)calculated10 kN·m/kg
Specific Stiffness (E / density)calculated7.9 MN·m/kg
Thermal Diffusivitycalculated0.4 mm²/s
Thermal Shock Resistance Indexcalculated0

Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.

Other PZT tempers and conditions

PZT is also supplied in 4 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the PZT overview.

Working with PZT Sintered

Is PZT easy to machine?

Green machining is easy; fired PZT requires diamond grinding, lapping, dicing or ultrasonic machining, with light passes to avoid edge chipping and micro-cracking.

Can PZT be welded?

Not weldable — joined by conductive epoxy, solder to fired-on Ag electrodes (<250 °C, short dwell) or clamped stack preload.

Can PZT be formed, bent or molded?

Formed by dry/isostatic pressing or tape casting of calcined powder, sintered 1150–1320 °C in a PbO-rich atmosphere to limit lead volatilisation, then electroded and DC-poled above the coercive field.

What surface finishes work on PZT?

Fired silver, sputtered Cr/Ni-Au or electroless Ni electrodes; lap or polish faces flat before electroding, and avoid temperatures above ~½ Tc during any downstream process to prevent depoling.

PZT 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 in the perovskite A-site; partly substituted by Sr/Ba/La in doped grades60 – 6563.6
ZrZr/Ti ratio near the morphotropic phase boundary (~52/48)12 – 1614.6
Ti6 – 8.57.1
Nbdonor dopant in soft grades (PZT-5A/5H)0 – 1.50.6
Feacceptor dopant in hard grades (PZT-4/8)0 – 10.3
SrA-site modifier, adjusts Curie point/permittivity0 – 20.8
O≥ 14 (balance)—

PZT Sintered — frequently asked

What is PZT Sintered used for?

PZT Sintered is typically used for ultrasonic transducer discs and rings, piezoelectric sensors and accelerometers, hydrophone and sonar elements, stack and bender actuators, ultrasonic cleaning and welding drivers and flow and level measurement probes. In short: piezoelectric actuator ceramic.

What is the tensile strength of PZT Sintered?

PZT Sintered has a typical tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) — weaker than 57% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.

Is PZT Sintered easy to machine?

Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (8/100, better than 70% of ceramic grades). Green machining is easy; fired PZT requires diamond grinding, lapping, dicing or ultrasonic machining, with light passes to avoid edge chipping and micro-cracking.

Can PZT Sintered be welded?

Not weldable — joined by conductive epoxy, solder to fired-on Ag electrodes (<250 °C, short dwell) or clamped stack preload.

What surface finishes work on PZT Sintered?

Fired silver, sputtered Cr/Ni-Au or electroless Ni electrodes; lap or polish faces flat before electroding, and avoid temperatures above ~½ Tc during any downstream process to prevent depoling.

Can PZT Sintered be formed, bent or molded?

Formed by dry/isostatic pressing or tape casting of calcined powder, sintered 1150–1320 °C in a PbO-rich atmosphere to limit lead volatilisation, then electroded and DC-poled above the coercive field.

What is the maximum service temperature of PZT Sintered?

PZT Sintered is rated for continuous use to about 175°C (347 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.

Can FabDigit make parts in PZT Sintered?

Yes — PZT Sintered is available for CNC machining with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.

Sources

  1. IEEE 176 Standard on Piezoelectricity — IEEE (1987)
  2. Physical and Piezoelectric Properties of APC Materials — APC International (2023)
  3. PIC Piezoelectric Ceramic Materials Data — PI Ceramic (2023)
  4. ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.4 — Ceramics and Glasses — 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.