Silver price hikes! Don’t worry, TDK has the answer

The recent hike in precious metal prices is putting commercial pressure on conventional multilayer piezo designs that use silver. In addition to increasing costs, silver is the primary cause of failure when moisture is present. By using copper instead of silver, TDK offers a compelling solution to both challenges.

As of early March 2026, the price of precious metals was near record highs. Silver has surged by more than 100% in the past six months [1] (Fig. 1a). In such a turbulent market, TDK’s patented High Active Stack (HAS) technology [2], which is copper-based, shields manufacturers from both relentless price escalation and supply-chain instability. This is because the price of copper has increased by just 29% in the last six months [3] (Fig. 1b). This makes the high-performance HAS technology more accessible and economically sustainable.

Additionally, silver-based electrodes come with a technical drawback: they are susceptible to moisture, also known as silver migration. This can lead to reduced endurance and potential short circuits in the components, compromising reliability in damp environments. Unlike silver electrodes, copper electrodes are inherently resistant to this effect, delivering greater durability and reliability. TDK’s third‑generation copper‑stack actuators demonstrate this advantage with an exceptional lifespan of over 100 million cycles at +85 °C at 85% relative humidity, energy‑controlled for nominal elongation. This performance is made possible by a patented copper‑etching process that significantly enhances both lifetime and structural robustness.

Broad applications across industries

For over 20 years, TDK’s HAS actuators have been an integral part of automotive fuel injection systems. But they are not limited to cars. They power nano-positioning systems in semiconductor production, ensuring accuracy in wafer handling and lithography processes. In medical applications, they support devices like ultrasound transducers and drug delivery systems, where precision and humidity resistance are non-negotiable.

The PowerHap series [4], for instance, extends to haptic feedback in consumer electronics, such as wearables and VR equipment, delivering crisp vibrations [5]. Valve controls in process engineering also benefit, managing liquids and gases with exceptional speed.

Furthermore, in AI infrastructure, enabling advanced optical solutions for high-speed, low-latency data transmission in data centers. This supports the massive computational demands of AI, offering humidity-resistant reliability and cost stability essential for scalable, efficient data center operations.

A partner ready to build your copper-based piezo

What truly sets TDK apart is its full in-house expertise. At the global piezo competence center in Deutschlandsberg, Austria, the company controls every step, from design and development to prototyping and high-volume manufacturing. This complete vertical integration ensures uncompromising quality, rapid innovation cycles, and the flexibility to tailor multilayer piezo solutions precisely to customer requirements. Whether adapting an existing actuator or engineering a completely new copper-based variant.

Ready to take the next step in transforming your application using piezo actuators with copper? Reach out to us.

Get in touch: piezo@tdk.com

References

[1] https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/silver, retrieved March 18, 2026

[2] Piezo actuators for fuel injection systems: Most reliable and cost-efficient, https://www.tdk-electronics.tdk.com/en/373562/tech-library/articles/applications-cases/applications-cases/most-reliable-and-cost-efficient/1039300, July 11, 2014; retrieved March 3, 2026

[3] https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/copper, retrieved March 18, 2026

[4] PowerHap Piezoelectric Actuators. Fast. Precise. Immersive. https://www.tdk-electronics.tdk.com/en/2124786/products/product-catalog/switching-heating-piezo-components-buzzers-microphones/powerhap, retrieved March 3, 2026

[5] PowerHap from TDK makes AR/VR experiences more immersive, https://www.tdk-electronics.tdk.com/en/373562/tech-library/articles/applications-cases/applications-cases/powerhap/3225734, March 12, 2024; retrieved March 3, 2026