MACRO FIBER COMPOSITE Piezo Material

  • Product No:MFC
  • Manufacturer:Smart Material Corp.

The Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) is the leading low-profile actuator and sensor offering high performance, flexibility and reliability in a cost- competitive device. The MFC was invented by NASA in 1999. In 2002, Smart Material started commercializing this patented invention worldwide as its licensed manufacturer and distributor. Since then, the MFC has been continuously improved and customized to fit customers’ specific needs and to meet the requirements for new applications.


Benefits and Features:

  • Flexible, durable and reliable
  • Increased strain actuator efficiency
  • Directional actuation and sensing
  • Damage-tolerant
  • Available as elongator (d33 mode) and contractor (d31 mode)
  • Conforms to surfaces
  • Readily embeddable
  • Environmentally sealed package
  • Demonstrated performance
  • Different piezo ceramic materials available
  • Available also in single crystal PMN-PT, PZN-PT


The MFC consists of rectangular piezo ceramic rods sandwiched between layers of adhesive, electrodes, and polyimide film. The electrodes are attached to the film in an interdigitated pattern which transfers the applied voltage directly to and from the ribbon-shaped rods. This assembly enables in-plane poling, actuation, and sensing in a sealed and durable, ready-to-use package. The MFC can also be applied (normally bonded) as a thin, surface-conformable sheet to various types of structures, or embedded in a composite structure. If voltage is applied, it will bend or distort materials, counteract vibrations, or generate vibrations. If no voltage is applied it can work as a very sensitive strain gauge, sensing deformations, noise, and vibrations. The MFC is also an excellent device to harvest energy from vibrations.


Max. blocking force28N to 1kN depending on width of MFC
Max. operating voltageP1, S1, F1: -500V to +1500V
P2, P3: -60V to 360V
Max. operating frequencyActuator: 10kHz

Sensor, Harvester <1MHz

Typical lifetime

Actuator: 10E+8 cycles

Sensor: 10E+11 cycles

Harvester:10E+10 cycles

Typical thickness300µm, 12mil
Typical capacitance

P1, S1, F1: 2nF to 12nF

P2, P3: 25nF to 200nF