Morgan Electro Ceramics has developed its first unimorph piezoelectric actuator for manufacturers of industrial process equipment. The device, which offers even bigger deflections than those of a bimorph but is up to 30% cheaper, has been developed for applications requiring a single actuation, such as the opening or closing of a valve.
Unlike bimorphs, which consist of two active piezo plates separated by an inactive inner layer, the unimorph has a single plate mounted on carbon fibre, a material that facilitates greater deflection and force, improving performance and reliability by between 20 and 30%.
The actuator is available in a range of sizes from 15 to 45mm in length and 2 to 15mm in width. It has been fitted with a safety electrode that guarantees operation in severe applications where the piezo plates are stretched to the limits of breaking, and an optional humidity coating can be applied to ensure that warm damp or humid environments do not affect performance.