Identification of the Effective Properties of PZT-Ni and PZT-Air Composites Considering a Non-uniform Partly Polarized Field

This study compares the equivalent properties of a PZT-Ni composite to those of a standard PZT-Air porous piezocomposite. The effective properties of both composites were estimated principally numerically using the finite element method and the Hill-Mendel principle, with fully homogeneous and highly inhomogeneous polarized piezoceramic matrix models. The numerical findings concerning the fully polarized model were verified analytically using Mori-Tanaka homogenization technique. The elastic moduli of PZT-Ni and PZT-Air composites and the dielectric permittivity of PZT-Air composite exhibited no significant dependence on polarization inhomogeneity; however, the piezoelectric coefficients showed a considerable dependence on the chosen polarizations model. The incorporation of metal inclusions into the piezoceramic matrix increases the polarization field at the interface, which improves the composite’s homogenized dielectric permittivity moduli. The PZT-Ni composite’s improved dielectric permittivity boosts its efficiency in lighting electronics, voltage controllers, and multilayer small-volume high-performance capacitors.