Piezoelectric properties, densification behavior and microstructural evolution of low temperature sintered PZT ceramics with sintering aids

doi:10.1016/S0955-2219(01)00020-6

Journal of the European Ceramic Society

Volume 21, Issues 10–11, 2001, Pages 1367-1370

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0955-2219(01)00020-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

Pb(Zr_0.53Ti_0.47)O₃ Ceramics can be made densified at as low as 800°C for 2 h by incorporating LiBiO₂+CuO as the sintering aids. It exhibits high dielectric constant 1000–1300 and coupling factor 55–60% over a wide temperature range 800–1000°C. The optimal properties were obtained for the ceramics sintered at 880°C for 2 h. The densification behavior was investigated by using nonisothermal techniques. In the densification curve, the three sintering stages were found for Pb(Zr_0.53Ti_0.47)O₃ ceramics with the sintering aids at a certain addition amount. The additives were characterized by TG-DSC. The microstructure development of the ceramics was observed by SEM and compared to that of Pb(Zr_0.53Ti_0.47)O₃ ceramics. XPS was used to analyze the distribution of the additives in sintered ceramics.

Introduction

Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ ceramics (PZT) has been widely applied to various fields because of its excellent piezoelectric properties. But for conventional PZT ceramics, the vaporization of PbO in its composition during sintering is of great significance, which makes it difficult to control microstructure and the electromechanical properties of PZT and also causes the environmental pollution. The low temperature sintering of PZT ceramics can not only solve the problems from the vaporization of PbO, but also reduce the energy consumption and fabrication cost. Thus the study on lowering the sintering temperature of PZT ceramics has aroused more and more attentions from the researchers.

Previous research works have revealed that the sintering temperature of PZT ceramics can be lowered by employing the additives with low melting point.1, 2, 3, 4, 5 In this way, however, it is difficult to keep the piezoelectric properties of the based composition. Therefore, it is generally believed that the employment of a proper additive as a sintering aid is favorable to low temperature sintering of Pb(Zr_0.53Ti_0.47)O₃ ceramics (abbreviated as PZT). In this study, the additives LiBiO₂+CuO (abbreviated as LBCu) were employed for facilitating the sintering process of Pb(Zr_0.53Ti_0.47)O₃ ceramics. LBCu were chosen as a sintering aid because of their effects on enhancing the densification of PZT ceramics and improving the piezoelectric properties.6, 7, 8

Section snippets

Experimental

The Pb(Zr_0.53Ti_0.47)O₃ powder was prepared via a conventional mixed-oxide route by using commercially available PbO, TiO₂ and ZrO₂ of 99.9% purity as starting materials. The calcination was done at 890°C for 2 h. The sintering aid: 1 wt.% LiBiO₂+0.06 wt.%CuO was added to calcined PZT powder as a mixture of Li₂CO₃, Bi₂O₃ and CuO powders. They are mixed in ethanol for 12 h. Disc specimens were formed at 800 kg/cm² in a diameter of 22 mm and thickness of 2.5 mm and sintered from 800 to 1000°C for

Results and discussion

Fig. 1 gives the density as a function of sintering temperature for PZT and PZT composition with 1.06 wt.% LiBiO₂+CuO added. The initial sintering temperature for the PZT based composite is higher than 1150°C. In contrast to that, the LBCu added PZT powders has attained a high density at 800°C. With a minor addition of LBCu additives, the sintering temperature of PZT powders can be reduced by 350°C.

Fig. 2 shows the SEM micrographs of the surfaces of PZT and LBCu added PZT compositions. An

Conclusion

Low temperature sintering of Pb(Zr_0.53Ti_0.47)O₃ composition has been successfully attempted by using LiBiO₂+CuO additives as sintering aids. The densification of LiBiO₂+CuO added Pb(Zr_0.53Ti_0.47)O₃ composition occurs at around 600°C through particle rearrangement process due to the formation of a small amount of liquid phase from the melting of the additives. The main densification mechanism at relatively higher temperature is similar to solid-state sintering by volume diffusion. The additives

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Piezoelectric properties, densification behavior and microstructural evolution of low temperature sintered PZT ceramics with sintering aids

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Experimental

Results and discussion

Conclusion

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Low-temperature sintering pf lead-based piezoelectric ceramics

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