New type of piezo-damping aluminum matrix composites with ZnO:Al-coated LiNbO3 particles

A new type of piezo-damping aluminum matrix composite containing ZnO:Al-coated LiNbO₃ particles was prepared. The dependence of the damping properties of composites on the resistivity of ZnO:Al coatings, altered by Al doping concentration, was investigated. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis revealed that decreasing the resistivity of ZnO:Al coatings causes the loss factors of the composites to initially increase until the maximum value, before rapidly decreasing. Based on this piezo-damping material, the LiNbO₃ particles contribute to the transformation of mechanical vibration energy into electric energy, which is then converted into Joule's heat in the networks within the ZnO:Al coatings and metal matrix. An optimum formulation for piezo-damping metal matrix composites can be designed based on the results of this study.