Advanced Cerametrics Inc develops and manufactures high tech ceramic components and specialty ceramic fibers, specifically vibration energy harvesting for powering electronics and managing vibration. The flexibility of ACIs fiber and fiber composites gives the firms products a physically superior capability to convert useful amounts of electrical power from vibration or motion via the piezoelectric effect. ACI uses the same or similar components to reverse this process and actively dampen vibration. The firms developed composite is comprised of unidirectionally aligned piezoelectric fibers that provide electric charges and stiffness of the composite. The fibers are surrounded by a resin matrix system offering damage tolerance with load transfer mechanisms while electrical inputs/outputs are delivered through a separate interdigital electrode layer. The benefits of using Piezoelectric Fiber Composites (PFC) includes increases in the specific strength of the fine ceramic fiber composites over monolithic materials as a result of fiber load sharing mechanism; In large volumes, actuators, sensors and energy harvesters can be fabricated in a variety of shapes inexpensively; and the additional design flexibility gained allows PFC the ability to create complex motion, such as twisting, even on isotropic structures. The orthotropic nature of the unidirectional fibers and interdigital electrode permits effective design of modal generators and sensors.
