Large Array Applications for 1-3 Piezoelectric Composite Transducers

Under separate Navy funding, MSI has developed a low cost injection molding process for piezocomposite fabrication that has made these innovative materials available for the first time in manufacturing quantities. 1-3 type piezoelectric ceramic/polymer composites have demonstrated performance advantages in Navy sensor and actuator applications, and their benefits in commercial acoustic imaging applications are well understood. In Phase 1, MSI plans to demonstrate the benefits of 1-3 piezoelectric composites on two large array systems of current applications interest to the US Navy: The Advanced Mine Detection System (AMDS) and Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) imaging arrays. The AMDS, now approaching its production phase, is currently using a 0-3 composite that is manufactured offshore, and has limited sensitivity and actuation ability. The Phase 1 work will be accomplished on 20-element array 1-3 piezocomposites in a test tank. In Phase 2, MSI will build full AMDS and UUV arrays for systems evaluation. At present, the manufacturing costs of these 1-3 composite transducers limit their widespread applicability in cost-sensitive commercial applications because there is no large volume application to generate economies of scale. The planned AMDS application will provide the necessary manufacturing volume and will thereby facilitate large scale commercial development.