High-temperature electromechanical actuators

Electromechanical materials including piezoelectric and electrostrictive single crystal and ceramic materials have the potential to operate at extremely high temperatures. For example, although it has a relatively small piezoelectric constant, LiNbO₃ has a Curie temperature >1100°C. This material and others have the potential to produce useful work at elevated temperatures. This chapter looks at the potential applications of these electromechanical materials for high-temperature applications. The majority of this chapter discusses recent developments in high-temperature electromechanical materials and potential actuator design approaches that can produce useful work. A small section on competing technologies that can operate at high temperatures is also included. Some of the potential negative issues and pitfalls that can occur when designing mechanisms that have to operate at high temperatures are also discussed. Finally, we summarize the advantages and disadvantages of these materials over competing actuator technologies.