Diphasic models

Although 0-3 composites appear to be simple in structure, many factors are involved in the choice of polymer and filler materials, fabrication and poling procedures. A large research effort has been mounted to optimize these factors and make better 0-3 composites. Analysis of the design considerations and the approach to fabricating a sensitive 0-3 composite are elaborated on later. 

The following section follows the connectivity discussion by looking at the way in which composite properties can be modelled. 

Composite piezoelectric materials may be represented by the so-called simple series, simple parallel and the modified cubes diphasic models (Fig. 6.4). The modified cubes model was developed as a generalization of the series, parallel and cubes models. It is adapted for the representation of 0-3 composite sheet materials. Estimated values of the average longitudinal piezoelectric strain coefficient 33 and the average piezoelectric voltage coefficient 33 for the composite may be evaluated in terms of these models. References to the piezoelectric ceramic and the polymer phase will be indicated by superscripts 1 and 2 respectively. 

---

Fig. 6.4 Simple series, parallel and modified cubes diphasic models.

---