Piezoelectric ceramic compositions are provided which are characterized by high stability with temperature and time in resonant frequency and by high electromechanical coupling coefficients and high dielectric constants or by high electromechanical coupling coefficients and high mechanical quality factors. These ceramic compositions are ternary systems, in solid solution form, of the type formula Pb(Mn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3)0.sub.3 --PbTiO.sub.3 --PbZrO.sub.3. Optimal ternary compounds are within the area ABCD of FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings; very best compounds are defined by ABE. An especially good material consists of the solid solution of the formula Pb(Mn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3).sub.0.250 Ti.sub.0.430 Zr.sub.0.320 O.sub.3.
Piezoelectric ceramic compositions having very high mechanical quality factors, high electromechanical coupling coefficients and high durabilities of the piezoelectric constants with cycling of mechanical impact, and comprising the quaternary system Pb(Zn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3)O.sub.3 -Pb(Mn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3)O.sub.3 -PbTiO.sub.3 -PbZrO.sub.3.
Ferroelectric ceramic compositions comprising the ternary system ceramic composition which is represented by the general formula: xPb(Nb.sub..alpha.Cr.sub.2.sub.-3.sub..alpha. Mn.sub.2.sub..alpha..sub.-1)O.sub.3 -yPbTiO.sub.3 -zPbZrO.sub.3 wherein x, y and z are the respective molecular ratios, x + y + z = 1.00 and 0.525 < .alpha. < 0.625, said compositions falling within the polygon encompassed by the points A, B, C, D, E, F and G in the attached FIG. 1. These ferroelectric ceramic compositions have excellent characteristics such as the mechanical quality factor, the electro-mechanical coupling factor and the relative dielectric constant, and are useful, especially, as materials for ceramic filters, ultrasonic waves and/or piezoelectric transformers, and the characteristics thereof are stable and constant with repeated high temperature and low temperature heat cycles.
A method of making a print head (100) includes forming a body (110) having a closed base (120) and independent fluid containment compartments (220) formed about the closed base (120). A substantially planar piezoelectric transducer (80) comprising a slab (60) of piezoelectric material provides a means of enclosing each of the independent fluid containment compartments (220). Each of the independent compartments has operably associated therewith one of a plurality of first electrodes (20) arranged on a first surface (62) of the slab (60) of piezoelectric material and a portion of a second electrode (22) arranged on an opposite second surface (64). By applying a voltage to the first and second surface electrodes (20, 22) in a predetermined manner induces an electric field in a portion of the slab (60) of piezoelectric material and thereby forces fluid composition through the independent fluid containment compartment (220).
