Introduction
Multilayer actuators are fabricated from thin sheets of tape-cast ceramic. Silver-palladium electrodes are deposited on the sheets by screen printing. The sheets are then stacked and fired. This co-firing technology results in a compact device with high stiffness, low drive voltage, high volumetric efficiency and fast response time.
The internal structure of a multi-layer actuator is shown schematically below:
Dl = n.V.d33 where n is the number of active layers, Dl is the displacement, d33 the strain constant, and V is the applied voltage (<300 V).
