Ionix Advanced Technologies Secures UK Government Funding for Development of Next-Generation Lead-Free Piezoceramic Materials
Huddersfield, UK - Ionix Advanced Technologies, a renowned leader in the field, has been awarded a prestigious UK government grant titled "Next generation lead-free sensors and actuators." This 18-month program, which commenced on April 1, 2023, will see Ionix spearheading the development of innovative lead-free piezoelectric materials. The project is jointly funded by Innovate UK, a part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under project number 10048882, as well as private equity investments.
Piezoelectric materials are vital components in various applications, ranging from medical ultrasound to parking sensors, as well as a wide array of industrial sensors. The current market, valued at over $30 billion for piezoelectric-based sensors and actuators, heavily relies on lead zirconate titanate (PZT), a material containing significant amounts of lead. However, lead-based electroceramics, including PZT, require exemptions from the European RoHS legislation, which undergoes regular review. The removal of such exemptions would have a substantial global impact on both manufacturers and users of PZT.
Presently, there are no lead-free materials available that can match the performance, sensitivity, activity, temperature withstand, and cost of PZT. Consequently, many users of lead-based piezoceramics are now embarking on parallel lead-free programs to mitigate the risk posed by potential changes in legislation. However, they face challenges such as performance limitations and even complete product line failures due to the unavailability of suitable replacement piezos.
Dr. Tim Comyn, Technical Director and founder of Ionix, sheds light on why the company was selected to lead this groundbreaking project: "Over the past decade, Ionix has pioneered the development of a new family of low-lead piezoceramic materials, HPZ, designed for extreme environments and challenging applications. With our unique processing capabilities, we are ideally positioned to fabricate, manufacture, and industrialize high-performance lead-free piezoceramics for the next generation."
Ionix anticipates that this new material platform will find wide adoption in various applications, including flow sensors, accelerometers, and actuators. The company aims to develop multiple material families that cover ambient temperature applications (-55 to +120°C) as well as high-temperature applications (<550°C), aligning with Ionix's existing brand of extreme piezoelectric sensors and actuators.
Collaboration with key partners will be a crucial aspect of Ionix's work to tailor the performance of lead-free materials to meet specific application requirements. To facilitate this, Ionix will establish an end-user consortium, providing early access to the final materials and the opportunity to provide input on their specifications. More information about the consortium, including instructions for joining, will be released in the coming weeks.
As the leading manufacturer of tailored piezoceramic materials, devices, and solutions for extreme environments, Ionix Advanced Technologies empowers sensors and actuators with their revolutionary Ionix HPZ™ technology, opening up new frontiers in challenging applications and markets.
