Influence of silver surface treatment and frictional materials on the operating properties of piezo-electric actuators

The tribological effect of differently processed silver coatings and frictional materials on the operating efficiency of piezo-electric actuators (PEA) when using different frictional contact materials were investigated. Best results for PEA speed stability and load-bearing capacity range are obtained when silver coating operates with diatomite compound with minium. Grinding of the silver coating surface improves the PEA characteristics by increasing the effective contact area, i.e. continuous operation of PEA was at relatively wide loading range and the rotation speed was higher. The decrease of rotational speed due to higher loading can be compensated by clamping force. At low loading output torque the frictional material with corundum ensures maximum speed; so this material could be used for low loaded high-speed actuators.