Thin Piezo Actuator/ Piezo Sensor: Macro Fiber Composite
＊This product is produced by Smart Material GmbH
Benefits and features
- Flexible, durable and reliable
- Increased strain actuator efficiency
- Directional actuation and sensing
- Damage-tolerant
- Available as elongator (d33 mode) and contractor (d31 mode)
- Conforms to surfaces
- Readily embeddable
- Environmentally sealed package
- Demonstrated performance
- Different piezo ceramic materials available
- Available also in single crystal PMN-PT, PZN-PT
The Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) is the leading low-profile actuator and sensor offering high performance, flexibility and reliability in a cost- competitive device. The MFC was invented by NASA in 1999. In 2002, Smart Material started commercializing this patented invention worldwide as its licensed manufacturer and distributor. Since then, the MFC has been continuously improved and customized to fit customers’ specific needs and to meet the requirements for new applications.
The MFC consists of rectangular piezo ceramic rods sandwiched between layers of adhesive, electrodes, and polyimide film. The electrodes are attached to the film in an interdigitated pattern which transfers the applied voltage directly to and from the ribbon-shaped rods. This assembly enables in-plane poling, actuation, and sensing in a sealed and durable, ready-to-use package. The MFC can also be applied (normally bonded) as a thin, surface-conformable sheet to various types of structures, or embedded in a composite structure. If voltage is applied, it will bend or distort materials, counteract vibrations, or generate vibrations. If no voltage is applied it can work as a very sensitive strain gauge, sensing deformations, noise, and vibrations. The MFC is also an excellent device to harvest energy from vibrations.
MFC P1 type (d33 effect), Elongator
The P1 type MFCs, including the F1 and S1 types, utilize the d33 effect for actuation and will elongate up to 1800ppm if operated at the maximum voltage rate of -500V to +1500V. The P1 type MFCs are also very sensitive strain sensors.
MFC P1, F1 and S1 types (d33 effect), Elongator
MFC F1 types, 45° fiber orientation
-500 to 1500V operating voltage
Minimum Order Quantity is 10pcs. Please be noted that we will charge 19,800yen shipping fees from overseas to Japan。
| Model | active length in mm |
active width in mm |
overall length in mm |
overall width in mm |
Capacitance in nF ±20% |
free strain in ppm ±10% |
blocking force in N ±10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M2503-P1 | 25 | 3 | 35 | 9 | 0.22 | 788 | 21 |
| M2807-P1 | 28 | 7 | 38 | 13 | 0.7 | 1035 | 62 |
| M2814-P1 | 28 | 14 | 38 | 20 | 1.9 | 1160 | 146 |
| M4005-P1 | 40 | 5 | 50 | 11 | 0.70 | 885 | 38 |
| M4010-P1 | 40 | 10 | 50 | 16 | 1.9 | 1050 | 90 |
| M4312-P1 | 43 | 12 | 53 | 18 | 2.1 | 1050 | 94 |
| M5628-P1 | 56 | 28 | 67 | 35 | 4.4 | 1350 | 340 |
| M8503-P1 | 85 | 3 | 116 | 14 | 0.9 | 788 | 21 |
| M8507-P1 | 85 | 7 | 101 | 13 | 3.1 | 1035 | 65 |
| M8514-P1 | 85 | 14 | 101 | 20 | 4.2 | 1200 | 152 |
| M8528-P1 | 85 | 28 | 103 | 35 | 6.9 | 1350 | 454 |
| M8557-P1 | 85 | 57 | 103 | 64 | 16.00 | 1350 | 693 |
| M14003-P1 | 140 | 3 | 160 | 10 | 1.4 | 1050 | 28 |
MFC Special types, S1
MFC Special types, S1
-500 to 1500V operating voltage
Minimum Order Quantity is 10pcs. Please be noted that we will charge 19,800yen shipping fees from overseas to Japan.。
| Model | active length in mm |
active width in mm |
overall length in mm |
overall width in mm |
Capacitance in nF ±20% |
free strain in ppm ±10% |
blocking force in N ±10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M8557-S1 Actuator with co-located Sensor |
85 85 |
47 5 |
112 | 75 | 13.00 1.45 |
1350 | 570 calc. |
MFC F1 types, 45°fiber orientation
MFC F1 types, 45° fiber orientation
-500 to 1500V operating voltage
Minimum Order Quantity is 10pcs. Please be noted that we will charge 19,800yen shipping fees from overseas to Japan.。
| Model | active length in mm |
active width in mm |
overall length in mm |
overall width in mm |
Capacitance in nF ±20% |
free strain in ppm ±10% |
blocking force in N ±10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M8528-F1 | 85 | 28 | 105 | 35 | 11.00 | 1350 | 364 calc. |
| M8557-F1 | 85 | 57 | 105 | 64 | 16.00 | 1350 | 710 calc. |
MFC P2 type and P3 type (d31 effect), Contractor
The P2 and P3 type MFCs utilize the d31 effect for actuation and will contract up to 750ppm if operated at the maximum voltage rate of -60V to +360V. The P2 and P3 type MFCs are mostly used for energy harvesting and as strain sensors.
P2 and P3 type standard inventory sizes
MFC P2 types, anisotropic
-60 to 360 operating voltage
Minimum Order Quantity is 10pcs. Please be noted that we will charge 19,800yen shipping fees from overseas to Japan.。
| Model | active length in mm |
active width in mm |
overall length in mm |
overall width in mm |
Capacitance in nF ±20% |
free strain in ppm ±10% |
blocking force in N ±10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M0714-P2 | 7 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 11 | -540 | -57 |
| M2807-P2 | 28 | 7 | 37 | 10 | 21.5 | -600 | -35 |
| M2814-P2 | 28 | 14 | 37 | 18 | 43 | -630 | -76 |
| M5628-P2 | 56 | 28 | 67 | 31 | 175 | -740 | -175 |
| M8503-P2 | 85 | 3 | 94 | 7 | 15.5 | -430 | -11 |
| M8507-P2 | 85 | 7 | 100 | 10 | 63 | -605 | -38 |
| M8514-P2 | 85 | 14 | 100 | 18 | 127 | -630 | -76 |
| M8528-P2 | 85 | 28 | 103 | 31 | 258 | -740 | -180 |
| M8557-P2 | 85 | 57 | 103 | 60 | 548 | -750 | -385 |
| M8585-P2 | 85 | 85 | 103 | 88 | 662 | -750 | -585 |
| M17007-P2 | 170 | 7 | 185 | 11 | 126 | -600 | -37 |
MFC P3 types, orthotropic
-60 to 360V operating voltage
Minimum Order Quantity is 10pcs. Please be noted that we will charge 19,800yen shipping fees from overseas to Japan.。
| Model | active length in mm |
active width in mm |
overall length in mm |
overall width in mm |
Capacitance in nF ±20% |
free strain in ppm ±10% |
blocking force in N ±10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M2814-P3 | 28 | 14 | 37 | 18 | 52 | -620 | -95 |
| M5628-P3 | 56 | 28 | 66 | 31 | 130 | -800 | -240 |
| M8528-P3 | 85 | 28 | 103 | 31 | 227 | -800 | -240 |
| M20-4D50star8 P1 |