>So, Peter, if you wanted to make your own simple (inexpensive) transducer
>pair out of readily available materials, where would you start? Plastic
>piezo materials?

I wouldn't start. But if I'd have to I'd start off with a serious
comparative study (cost/benefit) for how high tech the transducer can be
wrt how cheap the enclosure, bonding, precision etc. I think that plastic
could make sense for a large transducer. Probably not for a small one.
Then there is the matter of the anisotropic structure that will hold the
array. Lots and lots of work and not in my line. For use in water, plastic
is the closest thing (because the impedance must be matched eventually).
Without a proper study, I do not know.

I have done some work with conducted and open air ultrasound and I know it
is hard work to make things work repeatably. As for 'diy' I have stripped
color carrier crystals and glued them on substrates for this purpose (for
conducted ultrasound). So not plastic. Obtaining acoustic characteristics
for commonly used materials is like pulling teeth. I had to do everything
by hand. Like speed of sound in 5 kinds of epoxy etc.

Beware what you patent I am currently fuming about some US patents that
should't be imnsho.

Peter

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