Smart Material - Home of the MFC
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 1996. Smart Material started commercializing the MFC as the licensed manufacturer and distributor of the patented invention* worldwide in 2002. Since then, the MFC has been continuously improved and customized to fit the customers’ specific needs and to meet the requirements for new applications.
Benefits and feature of the MFC:
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 tranfers
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. As a thin, surface conformable
sheet it can be applied (normally bonded)
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.
The MFC is available in d33 and d31 operational mode, a unique feature of the Macro Fiber Composite.
MFC P1 type (d33 effect), Elongator
The P1 type MFCs, including the F1 and S1 types are utilizing the d33 effect for actuation and will elongate up to 1800ppm if operated at the maximum voltage rate of -500V to +1500V. The P1 type MFCs are also very sensitive strain sensors.
MFC P2, P3 type (d31 effect), Contractor
The P2, P3 type MFCs are utilizing the d31 effect for actuation and will contract up to 750ppm if operated at the maximum voltage rate of -60V to +360V. The P2 and P3 type MFCs are mostly used for energy harvesting and as strain sensors.
Overview of Typical Properties:
| Max. blocking Force | 28N to 1kN depending on width of MFC |
| Max. operating Voltage | P,S,F1: -500 to +1500V P2, P3: -60V to 360V |
| Max. operating Frequency | Actuator: 10kHz Sensor,Harvester:<3MHz |
| Typical lifetime | Actuator: 10E+8 cycles Sensor: 10E+11 cyles Harvester:10E+10 cycles |
| Typical thickness | 300µm, 12mil |
| Typical capacitance | P,S,F1: 2nF to 12nF P2, P3: 25nF to 200nF |
MFC Engineering Properties |
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| High-field (|E| > 1kV/mm), biased-voltage-operation piezoelectric constants: | ||
| d33* | 4.6E+02 pC/N | 4.6E+02 pm/V |
| d31** | -2.1E+02 pC/N | -2.1E+02 pm/V |
| Low-field (|E| < 1kV/mm), unbiased-operation piezoelectric constants | ||
| d33* | 4.0E+02 pC/N | 4.0E+02 pm/V |
| d31** | -1.7E+02 | -1.7E+02 pm/V |
| Free-strain* per volt (low-field - high-field) for d33 MFC(P1) |
~ 0.75 - 0.9 ppm/V | ~ 0.75 - 0.9 ppm/V |
| Free-strain* per volt (low-field - high-field) for d31 MFC (P2) |
~1.1 - 1.3 ppm/V | ~1.1 - 1.3 ppm/V |
| Free-strain hysteresis* | ~ 0.2 | ~ 0.2 |
| DC poling voltage, Vpol for d33 MFC (P1) | +1500V | +1500V |
| DC poling voltage, Vpol for d31 MFC (P2) | +450 V | +450 V |
| Poled capacitance @ 1kHz, room temp, Cpol for d33 MFC (P1) |
~ 0.42 nF/cm² | ~ 2.7 nF/in² |
| Poled capacitance @ 1kHz, room temp, Cpol for d31 MFC (P2) |
~ 4.6 nF/cm² | ~ 29 nF/ in² |
| Orthotropic Linear Elastic Properties (constant electric field): | ||
| Tensile modulus, E1* | 30.336 GPa | 4.4E+06 psi |
| Tensile modulus, E1** | 15.857 GPa | 2.3E+06 psi |
| Poisson’s ratio, v12 | 0.31 | 0.31 |
| Poisson’s ratio, v21 | 0.16 | 0.16 |
| Shear modulus, G12*** | 5.515 GPa | 8.0E+05 psi |
| Operational Parameters: | ||
| Maximum operational positive voltage, Vmax for d33 MFC (P1) | +1500V | +1500V |
| Maximum operational positive voltage, Vmax for d31 MFC (P2) | +360V | +360V |
| Maximum operational negative voltage, Vmin for d33 MFC (P1) | -500V | -500V |
| Maximum operational negative voltage, Vmin for d31 MFC (P2) | -60V | -60V |
| Linear-elastic tensile strain limit | 1000 ppm | 1000 ppm |
| Maximum operational tensile strain | < 4500 ppm | < 4500 ppm |
| Peak work-energy density | ~1000 in-lb/in3 | ~1000 in-lb/in3 |
| Maximum operating temperature - Standard Version | < 80°C | < 176°F |
| Maximum operating temperature - Hight Temp Version | < 130°C | < 266°F |
| Operational lifetime (@ 1kVp-p) | > 10E+09 cycles | > 10E+09 cycles |
| Operational lifetime (@ 2kVp-p, 500VDC) | > 10E+07 cycles | > 10E+07 cycles |
Operational bandwidth as actuator, high electric field at low electric field levels (< 33% of max operating voltage) |
0Hz up to 10 kHz 0Hz up to 700kHz |
0Hz up to 10 kHz 0Hz up to 700kHz |
| Operational bandwidth as sensor | 0Hz up to 1 MHz | 0Hz up to 1 MHz |
| Additional mechanical parameters | ||
| Thickness of all MFC types | 300µm, +-10% | 12 mil +-10% |
| Volume Density, active area | 5.44 g/cm³ | 5.44 g/cm³ |
| Area Density, active area | 0.16 g/cm² | 0.16 g/cm² |
* Rod direction |
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MFC P1 and F1 (d33 effect) standard inventory sizes
MFC P1 types, 0° fiber orientation -500 to 1500V operating voltage |
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| model | active length in mm |
active width in mm |
overall length in mm |
overall width in mm |
Capacitance in nF |
free strain in ppm |
blocking force in N |
| M2503-P1 | 25 | 3 | 46 | 10 | 0.25 | 1050 | 28 |
| M2807-P1 |
28 | 7 | 40 | 18 | 0.33 | 1380 | 87 |
| M2814-P1 | 28 | 14 | 38 | 20 | 0.61 | 1550 | 195 |
| M4010-P1 | 40 | 10 | 54 | 22 | 1.00 | 1400 | 126 |
| M4312-P1 | 43 | 12 | 60 | 21 | 1.83 | 1500 | 162 |
| M8503-P1 | 85 | 3 | 110 | 14 | 0.68 | 1050 | 28 |
| M8507-P1 | 85 | 7 | 101 | 13 | 1.53 | 1380 | 87 |
| M8514-P1 | 85 | 14 | 101 | 20 | 3.00 | 1600 | 202 |
| M8528-P1 | 85 | 28 | 112 | 40 | 5.70 | 1800 | 454 |
| M8557-P1 | 85 | 57 | 103 | 64 | 9.30 | 1800 | 923 |
| M14003-P1 | 140 | 3 | 160 | 10 | 1.45 | 1050 | 28 |
MFC F1 types, 45° fiber orientation -500 to 1500V operating voltage |
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| M8528-F1 |
85 | 28 | 112 | 43 | 6.30 | 1350 | 485 calc. |
| M8557-F1 | 85 | 57 | 112 | 75 | 12.70 | 1750 | 945 calc. |
P1, F1 (d33 effect) elongator
d33 Actuator with expanding
motion P1
d33 Actuator with twisting
motion F1
MFC P2 and P3 (d31 effect), standard inventory sizes
MFC P2 types, anisotropic -60 to 360V operating voltage |
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| model | active length in mm |
active width in mm |
overall length in mm |
overall width in mm |
Capacitance in nF |
free strain in ppm |
blocking force in N |
| M0714-P2 | 7 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 6.5 | -600 | -85 |
| M2807-P2 |
28 | 7 | 42 | 14 | 12.4 | -650 | -40 |
| M2814-P2 | 28 | 14 | 37 | 18 | 25.7 | -700 | -85 |
| M5628-P2 | 56 | 28 | 70 | 34 | 113.0 | -820 | -205 |
| M8503-P2 | 85 | 3 | 113 | 8 | 12.3 | -480 | -13 |
| M8507-P2 | 85 | 7 | 108 | 11 | 38.4 | -670 | -42 |
| M8528-P2 | 85 | 28 | 106 | 34 | 172.0 | -820 | -205 |
| M8557-P2 | 85 | 57 | 105 | 61 | 402.0 | -840 | -430 |
| M8585-P2 | 85 | 85 | 105 | 90 | 605.0 | -842 | -650 |
MFC P3 types, orthotropic -60 to 360V operating voltage |
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| M2814-P3 |
28 | 14 | 36 | 16 | 29.5 | -750 | -110 |
| M8528-P3 | 85 | 28 | 106 | 34 | 200 | -900 | -265 |
P2, P3 (d31 effect) contractor
d31 Actuator with contracting
motion P2
Specialty Macro Fiber Composites and custom designs
In addition to manufacturing Macro Fiber Composites in a wide variety of standard sizes, we are also offering many specialized MFC layouts to meet our customers’ needs for applications which are requiring more complex layouts.
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This includes the Star MFC, for pumps and synthetic jets, the S1 and S2 types, which consist of sensor and actuator elements for a closed loop control, triangular shaped MFCs for strain adaptation and several other MFC arrays.
A growing percentage of MFCs manafctured by Smart Material are customer specific designs. Typically the feasibility of customer specific applications are tested with the various standard MFC sizes first, including rapid prototyping. After the initial feasibility and prototyping phase, the majority of our customers are deciding to make a application specific custom design of the MFC. Some of most common reasons for ordering a custom design are:
Smart Material offers two custom design services ranging from 5 to 6 weeks total lead time for the first custom units being shipped to the customer.
Overview for MFC custom designs:
| Max. size of custom MFC | 400mm by 530mm, 15.7 inches by 20 inches |
| MFC types | P1, F1, P2, P3 |
Typical lead time |
5 weeks for < 25 units 6 weeks for > 25 units |
| Available outer shell materials | Polyimide (Capton), Polyester |
| Typical thickness | 300µm, 12mil |
| NRE charges | depending on requested lead time |
The following list is a compilation of some of the application areas for the MFC grouped by the most active market segments. This list reflects ongoing development projects or applications already on the market and is of course not complete and more intended for orientation. Please check out our Support section frequently where you will find additional Publications and Presentations about applications for the Macro Fiber Composite or simply write us.
Aerospace |
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Industry |
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Automotive |
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Consumer |
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Civil Structures |
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