Piezo Ceramic Technology for Environmental Impact Mitigation

The deleterious side of the use of piezoceramic materials based on lead zirconate-titanate is lead toxicity, which complicates their production and disposal. In connection with this, a new line of research has emerged to replace lead-based ceramic materials with their lead-free counterparts. Rising energy costs and the need to reduce environmental impact also require more efficient and sustainable manufacturing processes for piezoceramics. The ceramics industry is an energy-intensive industry and has great potential for improving energy efficiency, mainly by introducing modern sintering technologies. Although the toxicity of the raw materials and high energy consumption are forms of the adverse environmental impact of the technological process, the management strategies are different for each one. Several technological approaches have now been developed to lower the cost of energy in the production of ceramics. There is also significant potential to improve environmental friendliness, for example by introducing additive manufacturing methods and new methods of sintering as well as by the manufacture of composites. This article presents a brief analysis of the prospects for introducing 3D printing methods in the production of piezoceramics and piezoelectric composites from the standpoint of perfecting a strategy for mitigating environmental impact.