Manufacturing Process
![Mfg-1 Raw Materials](https://seacorpiezo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Mfg-1.png)
[1] RAW MATERIALS
The first step is to weigh
![Mfg-2 Mixing](https://seacorpiezo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Mfg-2.png)
[2] MIXING
Dry mix and ball mill the raw materials
![Mfg-3 Calcining](https://seacorpiezo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Mfg-3.png)
[3] Calcining
The uniform mixture is then heat treated (calcined) during which the components react to form the polycrystalline phase
![Mfg-4 Milling](https://seacorpiezo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Mfg-4.png)
[4] MILLING
![Mfg-5 Grinding Polishing](https://seacorpiezo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Mfg-5.png)
[5] SPRAY DRYING
The calcined powder is spray dried to add binder in order to increase it's reactivity and to improve pressing properties.
![Mfg-6 Pressing](https://seacorpiezo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Mfg-6.png)
[6] PRESSING
Shaping by dry-pressing
![Mfg-7 Binder Burnout link to definitions and terminology](https://seacorpiezo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Mfg-7-1.png)
[7] BINDER BURNOUT
The binder is burnt out by slowly heating the green ceramics to around 700oC
![Mfg-8 Sintering](https://seacorpiezo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Mfg-8.png)
[8] SINTERING
The parts are transferred to another furnace, where they are sintered between 1200oC and 1300oC
![Mfg-9 Grinding Polishing](https://seacorpiezo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Mfg-9-1.png)
[9] GRINDING / POLISHING
The dimensional tolerance of fired parts is improved by cutting, grinding, lapping etc.
![Mfg-10 Mfg-10](https://seacorpiezo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Mfg-10.png)
[10] ELECTRODING
Electrodes are applied either by screen printing, chemical plating or vacuum deposition
![Mfg-11 Mfg-11](https://seacorpiezo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Mfg-11.png)
[11] POLING
Poling then is carried out by heating in an oil bath above Curie Temperature, and applying an electrical field of 2-8 kV/mm to align the domains in the material.
![Mfg-12 Mfg-12](https://seacorpiezo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Mfg-12.png)
[12] FINAL INSPECTION
Final inspection is performed after a minimum of 24 hours later, and includes testing of electrode-ceramic bonding as well as measurement of dimensional tolerances, dielectric and piezoelectric properties.