1. Power applications of piezoelectric materials

1.1 General

Piezoelectric materials, which have the intriguing property of converting electrical energy directly into mechanical energy (and vice versa), now constitute a new field of application that lies between mechanics and electronics. Typically, these materials are used in :

• ultrasound generation with sonar, transducers for medical use (ultrasound);

• positioning (actuators and motors) ;

• gas lighters or fuel injectors (direct injection in diesel engines).

Although piezoelectricity was discovered by the Curie brothers in 1880, industrial power applications were only possible after the development in 1954 of a lead-, zirconium- and...