Introduction to Piezo
1 Sept 2009
National Physical Laboratory, UK

This industrial training from the Piezo Institute provides a one day introduction to piezoelectric materials and technologies.

Topics include:

• History of piezo technologies
• Piezo physics and chemistry
• Introduction to piezo materials
• Environmental issues and lead-free materials
• Piezo processing and manufacture

This introductory course is designed for anyone who regularly uses piezoelectric materials in their business, thinks they might benefit from the adoption of piezo in their products, or wants to appreciate the potential of piezo for future product development.

It is designed to give scientists and technologists a working knowledge of piezo materials and devices. Delegates will develop a basic understanding of how piezo properties are measured and will take back to their
workplace a set of real industrial applications for piezo materials and devices.

For further information or to register by email helen.white@npl.co.uk +44 20 8943 6606

2009 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium
20-23 Sept 2009
Ergife Palace Hotel, Roma, Italy

The symposium will explore the state of the art in ultrasonics. The topics are varied, with sessions are grouped according to application:

• Group 1: Medical ultrasonics
• Group 2: Sensors, NDE & industrial applications
• Group 3: Physical acoustics
• Group 4: Microacoustics – SAW, FBAR, MEMS
• Group 5: Transducers & transducer materials

Many sessions are relevant to Piezo Institute members including one organised by the institute, which focuses on piezoelectric thick films (TFT – Thick Film Piezo-Technology).

Thin & thick film processing - workshop
23 Sept 2009
Cranfield University, UK

This one day short course is organised by the Functional Materials and Smart Materials committees of the IOM3, and cosponsored by Cranfield University and the Piezo Institute.

It will have a mix of informal lectures and hands on experience. Topics include:

• Ceramic film production
• Processing
• Patterning
• Characterisation

The event is for early stage PhD and researchers, and those new to the field of thin and thick films.

Cost
Student price: £100
Standard price: £280

For further information please contact Dr Rob Dorey, r.a.dorey@cranfield.ac.uk, +44 (0)1234 750111

Piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers: from materials to design & characterisation
15-16 Oct 2009
University François Rabelais, France

During this two-day training course, experts in the field will cover:

• Basic acoustics required for transducer applications
• Transducer structures
• Transducer operation
• Transducer design rules
• Characterisation methods

The course includes hands on experience, and focuses on single-elements as well as arrays.

Examples of applications to medical diagnostics will be given, in particular high resolution imaging. The course finishes with a a tour of the ultrasound department of Tours University Hospital.

For further information or to register by email, please contact Marc Lethiecq, marc.lethiecq@univ-tours.fr

Piezo Institute members: 600 euros
non-members: 1200 euros

Piezoelectric Actuation
22 Oct 2009
Institution of Mechanical Engineers, London, UK

Commercial application of piezoelectric materials for actuation is rapidly increasing, with potential in the aerospace, defence, medical, and automotive industries.

However, it is still an emerging technology and many technical problems need to be understood and addressed before widespread use.

This 1-day seminar, which includes a presentation from NPL (a Piezo Institute partner), will present both industrial development and academic research, with a focus on application of the technology to solve real-world problems.

Workshop on structural characterisation
28 Jan 2010
Jozef Stefan Institute, Slovenia

This one day workshop will cover the techniques for structural characterisation, with particular reference to piezoceramics.

These techniques include:

- Optical microscopy
- Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM)
- Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
- X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD)

Registration is closed.

Piezo MEMS – design, fabrication and characterisation
2–5pm, 13 June 2010
Trondheim, Norway

The Piezo Institute is organising an industrial training course on piezoelectric micro electromechanical systems (piezo MEMS) in concurrence with the Electroceramics XII conference.

Piezo MEMS have applications across a range of sectors including security, health, and the environment. Fully realising the benefits requires a sound understanding of the challenges and solutions to design, manufacture and testing of these devices. This course will provide you with an insight in solutions from some of Europe's top researchers.

Markys Cain (NPL, UK), Robert Dorey (Cranfield University, UK) and a representative from Sintef Materials and Chemistry(Norway), all leaders in the field, will discuss:

• Introduction to piezo MEMS design
• Fabrication – processing & tools
• Characterisation – methods & metrology
• Applications & future research

This training course is at an intermediate to advanced level, suitable for late term PhDs and PDRAs.

The course is located at the same venue as Electroceramics XII, and finishes in time for delegates to attend the Electroceramics XII welcome reception.

Costs
• €140 per person
• Delegates are responsible for arranging and paying their transport and accommodation

Contact helen.white@npl.co.uk for more information

Processing & structural characterisation of lead-based and lead-free piezoelectric ceramics
2–5pm, 13 June 2010
Trondheim, Norway

The Piezo Institute is organising an industrial training course on lead-based and lead-free piezoelectric ceramics in concurrence with the Electroceramics XII conference.

Marija Kosec and Andreja Benčan Golob (Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia) will discuss:
• Lead-based versus lead-free piezoceramics
• Compositions
• Powder synthesis: chemical homogeneity, morphology control
• Sintering: atmosphere control
• Textured ceramics
• Thick films
• Single crystals by solid state growth
• Combined microscopy techniques in study of lead-free ceramics and crystals

The course is located at the same venue as Electroceramics XII.

Costs
• 140€ for regular participants 40€ for students
• Delegates are responsible for arranging and paying their transport and accommodation

Please register here (not through the link below)

Electroceramics XII
14-17 Jun 2010
Trondheim, Norway

*UPDATE* The Piezo Institute has confirmed that it will organise an industrial training course on processing and structural characterisation of lead-based and lead-free piezoelectric ceramics at the conference

*UPDATE* The Piezo Institute has confirmed that it will organise an industrial training course on Piezo MEMS at the conference

Over the last two decades electroceramics have become established as one of the most important research areas in materials science both through improvements in basic knowledge and their significant technological impact.

The series of Electroceramics meetings are an important forum to discuss recent advances and emerging trends in this developing field.

Confirmed speakers include Piezo Institute partners Prof Dragan Damjanovic (EPFL, Switzerland) and Prof Barbara Malič (Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia).

Participants will present recent findings and exchange ideas on R&D of electroceramics in the following areas:

• Ceramic processing and basic science
• Thin films and interfaces
• Modelling
• Dielectric, ferroelectric, piezoelectric and pyroelectric materials
• Multiferroic, magnetic, semiconducting and superconducting materials
• Ionic, electronic and mixed conductors, fuel cells, photocatalysis
• Sensors, actuators and energy harvesting materials
• Varistors and thermistors

Deadline for submission of abstracts has passed.

Uncertainties in Dielectric Measurements Workshop
22 June 2010
National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, TW11 0LW, UK.

This workshop is designed to give practical advice on the issues that need to be considered when setting up an uncertainty analysis for dielectric measurement techniques used today, and aims to give a better understanding of the uncertainties in dielectric measurement from LF to Microwave frequencies. To find out more, please visit http://www.npl.co.uk/events/uncertainties-in-dielectric-measurements-workshop