Fatigue responses of PZT stacks under semi-bipolar electric cycling with mechanical preload

Abstract

PZT stacks that had an inter-digital internal electrode configuration were tested to more than 10^8 cycles. A 100-Hz semi-bipolar sine wave with a field range of +4.5/-0.9 kV/mm was used in cycling with a concurrently-applied 20 MPa preload. Significant reductions in piezoelectric and dielectric responses were observed during the cycling depending on the measuring condition. Extensive surface discharges were also observed. These surface events resulted in the erosion of external electrode and the outcrop of internal electrode. Sections prepared by sequential polishing technique revealed a variety of damage mechanisms including delaminations, pores, and etch grooves. The scale of damage was correlated to the degree of fatigue-induced reduction in piezoelectric and dielectric responses. The results from this study demonstrate the feasibility of using a semi-bipolar mode to drive a PZT stack under a mechanical preload and illustrate the potential fatigue and damages of the stack in service.