Help test a Quartz Crystal for Piezoelectric properties. I would like to know if anyone can and is interested to test a crystal bowl and a piece of crystal and report back. We hope to publish a blog on this however we do not have equipment to run this test. WE can send items to someone to do the test. Prefer to be in contact with who can do this rather just send items and get a report back, it’s going to need a phone call at least to understand scope so you can quote this as a job. Plz respond if you can help
Hi Bianca
Depends on exactly what “this test” is. You would be lucky to find much suitable equipment outside a laboratory.
What exactly do you mean by “Quartz Crystal”?? A crystal as used in oscillators or filters cut to resonate at a specific frequency or any old bit of quartz you happen to have.
If the former the resonant frequency and Q can be checked approximately with a good signal generator and oscilloscope or other fast measuring device. NOT digital, too slow. These crystals show up as a parallel tuned resonator with a high impedance at resonance.
As for the latter, I have no idea how you would “test” something like this. You firstly have to determine what you are going to “test” for. As for a crystal bowl. I think this refers to a different type of “crystal” somehow.
Thinking about some of the “Blogs” (not many) I have seen you could probably publish anything and get away with it.
Sorry I can’t be more help.
Cheers Bob
Thanks, appreciate ur reply. I am looking to prove the way we make our quartz bowls still retain it’s “energetic” quartz properties being piezoelectric vs the high heat made bowls that are technically fused and loose this quality, if you use lower heats to binding point not fuse point the product is “supposed to” maintain it’s qualities. So we are able to prove this and use it in our marketing claims, we need to prove it first. This is important to our customers so that’s why i seek support from the community to know whats possible if anything. So i can claim when the quartz bowl is played “applied pressure” will cause the “energetic” properties…
Hi Bianca,
Prior to working at Core, I worked as a Geo-Chemist so I’m reasonably knowledgeable on this topic. Basically, when quartz is heated above its Curie temperature it will undergo a phase change and temporarily lose its piezoelectric properties, although once it has cooled below this point, it will regain this property.
Unless you have introduced materials other than SiO2 in the production process, the effect will be the same regardless.
Hope this helps.
“Energetic” properties?
What are the marketing claims you hope to make? Why would I want a bowl to have piezoelectric characteristics? Do you hope to make them resonate or something?
Hi Yes i am referring to a quartz sound bowl used in yoga or for meditation
That’s SO helpful thank you very much. Our audience like to know the energetic properties are still there even after heating. I have been working with a maker who said it should be heated to only binding point so Silica can bind to form a hard object “the bowl” then cooled slowly not rapid. But other than taking his word for it, who they are not a Geo-Chemist… Then i need firm technical responses to then be sure we can make a claim like, " We maintained energetic Properties during manufacture process" If ever asked… As Australia consumer laws can not mislead people and i want to make sure any claim can be backed.
Hi Bianca
This sounds like you want a contributor on this forum to formally state what you are claiming is true and factual.
That could open up a can of worms if challenged and the contributor you quote could find him/her self bogged down in all sorts of arguments.
Good luck with that.
Cheers Bob
Bob, what this sounds like is this, I would like someone to run tests and quote me for this test as i am unable to do this work. It’s no different to any consult job and the person doing the test is NOT the one to be in any arguments. Thank you for your feedback, good luck.
Hi Bianca
Sorry if I misinterpreted your post. It just looked to me as a problem could be just that and could misfire if incorrect advice was given.
If it is a consult job then I think you would have to find someone actively working in a relevant field with access to a suitable laboratory. Sorry I can’t help here.
This Forum is a hobbyist/maker/tinkerer type thing but you never know, you might just get lucky as there seem to be available a vast selection of backgrounds, some active and some (like me) long since retired. But even the right person retired from a suitable field may be able to steer you in the right direction.
Hope so.
Cheers Bob
Thank you for your follow up reply. I was directed here from the owners when i was seeking support for testing and to get a quote. Now that i better understand this group, i would like to know you you know of any firm i can engage with to conduct these tests.
Hi Bianca
Unfortunately not. I am a relative newcomer to this area (Central Coast NSW. 12 years) and a real newcomer to this field of expertise. Had it been a crystal as used in radio or electronics I may have been ale to help although I have lost touch here too a fair bit.
Maybe there is someone else on the Forum who knows something about this and might like to jump in here and make some suggestion. Hopefully now the air has cleared somewhat regarding responsibilities and legalities finding someone prepared to open up might be a bit easier.
Cheers Bob