Mn-Doped CaBi4Ti4O15/Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 Ultrasonic Transducers for Continuous Monitoring at Elevated Temperatures

• Main Authors: Makiko Kobayashi, Taiga Kibe, Hajime Nagata
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2017-11-01
• Series: Sensors
• Subjects: ultrasonic transducers; high temperature measurement; nondestructive testing; thin film sensor
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/17/12/2740

Continuous ultrasonic in-situ monitoring for industrial applications is difficult owing to the high operating temperatures in industrial fields. It is expected that ultrasonic transducers consisting of a CaBi4Ti4O15(CBT)/Pb(Zr,Ti)O3(PZT) sol-gel composite could be one solution for ultrasonic nondestructive testing (NDT) above 500 °C because no couplant is required and CBT has a high Curie temperature. To verify the high temperature durability, CBT/PZT sol-gel composite films were fabricated on titanium substrates by spray coating, and the CBT/PZT samples were tested in a furnace at various temperatures. Reflected echoes with a high signal-to-noise ratio were observed up to 600 °C. A thermal cycle test was conducted from room temperature to 600 °C, and no significant deterioration was found after the second thermal cycle. To investigate the long-term high-temperature durability, a CBT/PZT ultrasonic transducer was tested in the furnace at 600 °C for 36 h. Ultrasonic responses were recorded every 3 h, and the sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio were stable throughout the experiment.