Lithium niobate piezocomposite phased arrays operating at high temperatures

Kirk, K.J., Schmarje, N. and Cochran, S. (2004) Lithium niobate piezocomposite phased arrays operating at high temperatures. Insight: The Journal of the British Institute of Non-destructive Testing, 46(11), pp. 662-665. (doi: 10.1784/insi.46.11.662.52284)

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Abstract

Phased arrays made from high-temperature-resistant piezocomposite have been investigated for non-destructive testing. The piezocomposite material was made from lithium niobate in the 1–3 connectivity (pillar) configuration, manufactured by the dice-and-fill method using high-temperature cement as the passive matrix. Lithium niobate piezocomposites were used in ultrasonic measurements at high temperatures. In transmit/receive tests on a steel test block, clear back-wall echoes were seen at temperatures up to 500°C and the piezocomposite material remained operational after returning to room temperature. In phased array tests using an RD Tech array controller, an eight-element lithium niobate piezocomposite array with element width 1 mm and inter-element spacing 1.5 mm was able to detect a side-drilled hole representing a defect at 300°C. Lithium niobate is an important piezoelectric material for high-temperature ultrasonic applications since it is cheap and widely available and has a very high Curie temperature of 1210°C. The benefits of using piezocomposite rather than single-crystal plates of lithium niobate were increased robustness of the active material under thermal cycling, reduced lateral modes, and increased electromechanical coupling coefficient, kt.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Cochran, Professor Sandy
Authors: Kirk, K.J., Schmarje, N., and Cochran, S.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Journal Name:Insight: The Journal of the British Institute of Non-destructive Testing
Publisher:British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing
ISSN:1354-2575

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