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Ferroelectric vs Piezoelectric-difference between ferroelectric and piezoelectric



This page on Ferroelectric vs Piezoelectric mentions difference between ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials.

Ferroelectric and piezoelectric materials derive their properties from a combination of structural and electrical properties. As the name implies, both types of materials have electric attributes.

Piezoelectric material

The piezoelectric material is the one which possesses property to convert mechanical energy into electric energy and vice versa. The piezoelectric materials are divided into two major groups viz. crystals and ceramics.

Direct Piezoelectric Effect

Direct Piezoelectric Effect

The piezoelectric materials will generate electrical potential when they are subjected to some kind of mechanical stress. This direct piezoelectric effect is found in strain sensor, gas lighters, microphones, ultrasonic detectors etc.

The direct piezoelectric effects due to compression and tension are shown in the figure-1 above.
Compression Effect: When volume is decreased, it shows voltage with same polarity as of material.
Tension Effect: When volume is increased, it shows voltage with opposite polarity as of material.

Inverse Piezoelectric Effect

Inverse Piezoelectric Effect

When the Piezoelectric material is subjected to electric field (i.e. voltage), as a result it consequently lengthens or shortens which is proportional to the voltage. This inverse piezoelectric effect is found in crystal speakers, crystal oscillators, actuators, record player pic ups etc.

➤As shown in the figure-2(A), if applied voltage has the same polarity then the material gets expanded.
➤As shown in the figure-2(B), if applied voltage has opposite polarity then the material gets contracted.

Ferroelectric material

Ferroelectric

• All the ferroelectric materials exhibit piezoelectric effect due to lack of symmetry.
• Special class of piezoelectric materials exhibit certain other characteristics also.
• It exhibits spontaneous polarization i.e. polarization in absence of electric field.
• Ferroelectrics are electric analog of ferromagnets. This may display permanent magnetic behaviour. The first ferromagnetic material named Rochelle Salt has been discovered by Valasek.
• In ferroelectic, the polarization can be changed and reversed by external electric field. This is shown in the figure-3.

Ferroelectric vs Piezoelectric

Ferroelectric vs Piezoelectric

A large number of materials which are ferroelectric are also piezoelectric. However, the converse is not true.

Following table summarizes comparison between piezoelectric and ferroelectric material types.

Features Piezoelectric Ferroelectric
Characteristics Generates electric potential when subjected to mechanical energy (viz. compression or tension) is applied. Polarization can be changed and reversed with the applied external electric field.
Material classes Organic, Ceramic, single crystal Organic, Ceramic
Examples of materials PVF2, PZT, PLZT, Quartz, LiNbO3 PVF2, Liquid Crystals, PZT (Lead [Pb], Zirconate, Titanate) thin film
Applications actuator, transducer, optical, frequency control, SAW devices, ultrasonic receiver non-volatile memory, displays

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