Copper piezo actuators raise performance bar

The third generation EPCOS piezo actuator (AN18-8503b) features copper internal electrodes, which offer improved performance and cost-effectiveness. The units have excellent reliability and can operate a billion switching cycles without failures at 170°C.

The actuator is usually customized for high volume applications. It uses a ceramic material with piezoelectric coupling – conversion of electrical power into mechanical power – higher than 75%. A standard configuration has a 57 μm stroke, a typical blocking force of 10 N, a maximum frequency of 100 Hz, and 160 V operation. Size is 30.0 x 5.0 mm. The piezo actuators are often used in energy-efficient fuel injection systems.