Composition fluctuations and their influence on the properties of lead zirconate titanate ceramics

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · American Ceramic Society Bulletin; (United States)

OSTI ID:7018697

Saha, S K; Agrawal, D C ^[1]

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1. Indian Inst. of Tech., Kanpur (India)

This paper reports that ceramic bodies prepared by a mixed oxide route have spatial fluctuations in their chemical composition. The extent of fluctuation depends on the characteristics of the starting powders as well as on the processing schedule. Characteristics such as particle size, surface area and reactivity of the powders, purity, etc. have been found to influence the chemical homogeneity in the sintered product. Similarly, such process variables as the mode and extent of mixing of the powders, calcination temperature and time, compaction pressure, sintering atmosphere, time and temperature, all have been found have a significant effect on the chemical homogeneity. The fluctuations in chemical composition usually have an undesirable effect on the properties. Better chemical homogeneity has been reported in sampled in which powders made by processes such as sol-gel or coprecipitation have been used. The fluctuations in chemical composition are believed to be largely responsible for a finite width of the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) in the lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics, which are used for piezoelectric applications.

• OSTI ID: 7018697
• Journal Information: American Ceramic Society Bulletin; (United States), Vol. 71:9; ISSN 0002-7812
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
PZT
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
CERAMICS
FLUCTUATIONS
PARTICLE SIZE
PEROVSKITES
PHASE STUDIES
PIEZOELECTRICITY
SOLID SOLUTIONS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRICITY
LEAD COMPOUNDS
MIXTURES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SIZE
SOLUTIONS
TITANATES
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
VARIATIONS
ZIRCONATES
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
360202* - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Structure & Phase Studies
360204 - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Physical Properties