Process of forming small diameter rods and tubes

摘要

A process for the production of rods or tubes of piezoelectric material comprising providing a substrate, forming in the substrate substantially straight pores, lining or filling the pores with a piezoelectric material and removing the substrate materials so that an array of independent tubes or rods remains. The piezoelectric material can be deposited by using a precursor solution mist. The resulting tubes have an external diameter of not greater than 10žm. The rods have a variety of applications including use as electroactive fibres in composites. The tubes can be used in ink jet printing and drug delivery applications.