Development of Polymer-Ceramic-Metal Graded Acoustic Matching Layers via Cold Sintering

A family of three phase, polymer-ceramic-metal (Poly-cer-met) electrically conducting composites was developed via cold sintering for acoustic matching application in medical ultrasound transducers. A range of acoustic impedance (Z) between 5 < Z < 21 MRayl with low attenuation (<3.5 dB/mm, measured at 10 MHz) was achieved in composites of zinc oxide, silver, and in thermoplastic polymers like Ultem polyetherimide (PEI) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) at sintering pressure less than 50 MPa and temperature of 150 °C. Densities exceeding 95% were achieved, with resistivities less than 1 Ω-cm. The acoustic velocity was homogeneous across the part (variations < 5%). The acoustic velocities exceeded 2500 m/s for Z above 12 MRayl. The experimentally measured acoustic impedance of ZnO/Ag/PEI composites were observed to be in close agreement with the theoretical logarithmic model developed for different volume fractions of individual phases at the percolation limit for Ag. Thus, the acoustic properties of this family of matching layers can be predicted to a good approximation before experimental realization. Additionally, a non-conducting low Z (5 MRayl <Z<12 MRayl) with acoustic velocities exceeding 2000 m/s was achieved using hydrozincite as the ceramic component. Scaling of the composites to 2” diameter was demonstrated. A -6 dB bandwidth greater than 85% was measured for a three matching layer ultrasound transducer, fabricated using a single cold sintered layer (Z=19 MRayl) and two other commercial layers in the stack. Finally, a co-cold sintered graded prototype consisting of three tape-casted formulations corresponding to Z= 5, 9 and 19 MRayl while still retaining the correct distributions of the components was demonstrated.

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Work Title Development of Polymer-Ceramic-Metal Graded Acoustic Matching Layers via Cold Sintering
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Open Access
Creators
  1. Smitha Shetty
  2. Prapassorn Numkiatsakul
  3. Kevin Wickline
  4. Regina Incarnato
  5. Haifeng Wang
  6. Hal Kunkel
  7. Clive A. Randall
  8. Susan Trolier-Mckinstry
Keyword
  1. Cold sintering
  2. Acoustic matching
  3. Ultrasound transducer
  4. Acoustic impedance
  5. Attenuation
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control
Publication Date February 2, 2022
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1109/TUFFC.2022.3148792
Deposited August 02, 2022

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Version 1
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  • Created

    August 02, 2022 14:19 by Researcher Metadata Database

  • Added Shetty-IEEE_accepted-April2022.pdf

    August 02, 2022 14:19 by Researcher Metadata Database

  • Added Creator Smitha Shetty

    August 02, 2022 14:19 by Researcher Metadata Database

  • Added Creator Prapassorn Numkiatsakul

    August 02, 2022 14:19 by Researcher Metadata Database

  • Added Creator Kevin Wickline

    August 02, 2022 14:19 by Researcher Metadata Database

  • Added Creator Regina Incarnato

    August 02, 2022 14:19 by Researcher Metadata Database

  • Added Creator Haifeng Wang

    August 02, 2022 14:19 by Researcher Metadata Database

  • Added Creator Hal Kunkel

    August 02, 2022 14:19 by Researcher Metadata Database

  • Added Creator Clive A. Randall

    August 02, 2022 14:19 by Researcher Metadata Database

  • Added Creator Susan Trolier-Mckinstry

    August 02, 2022 14:19 by Researcher Metadata Database

  • Published

    August 02, 2022 14:19 by Researcher Metadata Database

  • Updated Keyword, Description, Publication Date Show Changes

    September 30, 2023 08:47 by avs5190

    Keyword
    • Cold sintering, Acoustic matching, Ultrasound transducer, Acoustic impedance, Attenuation
    Description
    • <p>A family of three phase, polymer-ceramic-metal (Poly-cer-met) electrically conducting composites was developed via cold sintering for acoustic matching application in medical ultrasound transducers. A range of acoustic impedance ( ${Z}$ ) between $5 &lt; {Z} &lt; 21$ MRayl with low attenuation (&lt;3.5 dB/mm, measured at 10 MHz) was achieved in composites of zinc oxide, silver, and in thermoplastic polymers like Ultem polyetherimide (PEI) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) at sintering pressure less than 50 MPa and temperature of 150 °C. Densities exceeding 95% were achieved, with resistivities less than $1~ \Omega $ -cm. The acoustic velocity was homogeneous across the part (variations &lt;5%). The acoustic velocities exceeded 2500 m/s for ${Z}$ above 12 MRayl. The experimentally measured acoustic impedance of ZnO/Ag/PEI composites was observed to be in close agreement with the theoretical logarithmic model developed for different volume fractions of individual phases at the percolation limit for Ag. Thus, the acoustic properties of this family of matching layers (MLs) can be predicted to a good approximation before experimental realization. Additionally, a non-conducting low ${Z}$ (5 MRayl $&lt; {Z} &lt; 12$ MRayl) with acoustic velocities exceeding 2000 m/s was achieved using hydrozincite as the ceramic component. Scaling of the composites to $2{^\prime}{^\prime}$ diameter was demonstrated. A -6 dB bandwidth greater than 85% was measured for a three ML ultrasound transducer, fabricated using a single cold sintered layer ( ${Z} = 19$ MRayl) and two other commercial layers in the stack. Finally, a co-cold sintered graded prototype consisting of three tape-casted formulations corresponding to ${Z} = 5$ , 9, and 19 MRayl, while still retaining the correct distributions of the components was demonstrated. </p>
    • <p>A family of three phase, polymer-ceramic-metal (Poly-cer-met) electrically conducting composites was developed via cold sintering for acoustic matching application in medical ultrasound transducers. A range of acoustic impedance (Z) between 5 < Z < 21 MRayl with low attenuation (<3.5 dB/mm, measured at 10 MHz) was achieved in composites of zinc oxide, silver, and in thermoplastic polymers like Ultem polyetherimide (PEI) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) at sintering pressure less than 50 MPa and temperature of 150 °C. Densities exceeding 95% were achieved, with resistivities less than 1 Ω-cm. The acoustic velocity was homogeneous across the part (variations < 5%). The acoustic velocities exceeded 2500 m/s for Z above 12 MRayl. The experimentally measured acoustic impedance of ZnO/Ag/PEI composites were observed to be in close agreement with the theoretical logarithmic model developed for different volume fractions of individual phases at the percolation limit for Ag. Thus, the acoustic properties of this family of matching layers can be predicted to a good approximation before experimental realization. Additionally, a non-conducting low Z (5 MRayl <Z<12 MRayl) with acoustic velocities exceeding 2000 m/s was achieved using hydrozincite as the ceramic component. Scaling of the composites to 2” diameter was demonstrated. A -6 dB bandwidth greater than 85% was measured for a three matching layer ultrasound transducer, fabricated using a single cold sintered layer (Z=19 MRayl) and two other commercial layers in the stack. Finally, a co-cold sintered graded prototype consisting of three tape-casted formulations corresponding to Z= 5, 9 and 19 MRayl while still retaining the correct distributions of the components was demonstrated.
    Publication Date
    • 2022-04-01
    • 2022-02-02
  • Updated

    April 04, 2024 10:21 by [unknown user]