A Dip-Coating Process for the Preparation of PZT Microtubes

PZT microtubes have been fabricated by dip coating of aqueous PZT powder slurry on vermicelli, followed by burnout of the vermicelli and sintering. The water-absorbing character of the vermicelli made a thin layer of PZT slurry to gel on its surface during dip coating. Thickness of the gel on the surface of the vermicelli depends on the dipping time. The green PZT layer thickness in the range of 140–190 μm could be achieved for a dipping time of 30–120 s. Microtubes having an inner diameter of nearly 500 μm with wall thickness in the range of 120–160 μm could be prepared by this process.