Patents Assigned to The Curators of the University of Missouri on behalf of the University of Missouri-Rolla
  • Patent number: 5359760
    Abstract: An improved method for fabrication of a multiple-element piezoelectric transducer and the transducer produced thereby. A green precursor tape is produced by doctor-blade tape-casting of a slurry containing lead zirconate-titanate (PZT) powder. After drying, individual strips of the tape are stacked between flat plates of previously sintered PZT, and sintered to form PZT strips; Pb from the previously sintered PZT plates makes up any Pb lost from the surfaces of the tape strips during sintering. The PZT strips are stacked interposed by layers of a thermoplastic polymer, and heated to a temperature above the melting point of the polymer, forming a laminate block. This block is then sliced perpendicular to the plane of the layers, forming slabs of alternate PZT and polymer layers; the slabs are then sliced perpendicular to the first slicing planes, forming strips of alternating PZT and polymer material. Electrodes are then added to complete the transducer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri on behalf of the University of Missouri-Rolla
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Busse, Jeffry W. Stevenson, Wayne Huebner