High temperature stability study of lithium niobate

超声波是最重要的无损检测（NDT）技术之一，用于监测各行业关键部件和基础设施的完整性。例如，飞机发动机、天然气管道、炼油厂塔、水管和涡轮叶片都要定期使用超声波进行检查。超声波是非破坏性的，因此可以在不损坏它所监测的系统的情况下使用。这项技术有助于诊断断裂、磨损、腐蚀和其他退化，如果不及早发现，可能会导致灾难性的故障。当前超声波换能器的一个主要限制是它们不能在高温下工作（约200°C以上），从而排除了广泛的应用，包括在高温下的在位结构健康监测（SHM）。在高温下操作超声换能器的主要挑战之一是主动压电元件在温度高于200°C时的劣化。因此，我们正在研究一种能够承受更高温度的替代有源压电元件的使用。这项研究成果最终可能导致一种能够承受高温的新型超声换能器的开发，从而能够对发电厂、喷气发动机和炼油厂等关键部件进行在役监测。

Ultrasound is one of the most important non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques used to monitor the integrityof critical components and infrastructure across industries. For example, aircraft engines, natural gas pipelines,refinery columns, water lines, and turbine blades are all regularly inspected using ultrasound. Ultrasound isnon-destructive, and can therefore be used without damaging the system it is monitoring. This technique helpsdiagnose fractures, wear, corrosion, and other degradation that, if not caught early, may lead to catastrophicfailure. A major limitation of current ultrasound transducers is that they are unable to operate at elevatedtemperatures (above about 200°C) - thereby precluding a wide range of applications, including in-servicestructural health monitoring (SHM) at high temperatures. One of the primary challenges of operating anultrasound transducer at high temperature is the deterioration of the active piezoelectric component attemperatures above about 200°C. We therefore are investigating the use of a alternative active piezoelectriccomponents that are able to withstand higher temperatures. The research outcome could ultimately lead to thedevelopment of a novel ultrasound transducer that is able to withstand high temperatures - thereby enablingin-service monitoring of critical components, such as in power plants, jet engines, and refineries.