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In the present paper (1-x)Pb (Zr1-yTiy)O3 – xPb (Mn1/3Sb2/3)O3 – z at%E system, with E = Pr3+, Nd5+ and Gd3+ where x = 0.12; y = 0.48; z = 0 and 0.02 ceramic synthesized by solid state reaction technique is analysed. The investigation aims studying of the effect of dopants on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of such piezoelectric ceramic. The prepared powders have been uniaxially pressed into discs with diameter of 10 – 12 mm and thickness of 1.2 mm. Sintering has been carried out in air atmosphere at temperatures of 1150°C and 1200°C, respectively, for 2 hours each, followed by a controlled cooling at a rate of 200°C /h. The piezoelectric properties have been investigated after a suitable preparation, including polishing, metallization. The structure of the samples has been determined by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), while the morphology and grains size have been investigated by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The piezoelectric properties have been studied by the resonance - antiresonance method. XRD analysis reveals a perovskite tetragonal structure and, as expected for ceramic materials, SEM analysis indicates that the average grain size increases as sintering temperature increases. The dielectric and piezoelectric properties have been determined measuring the ceramic discs, and properties, as dielectric permittivity (εr), dielectric loss (tg δ), and the electromechanical coupling factor (kp) have been obtained. The acquired results indicate a significant effect of the dopants on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of such materials.

The influence of the sintering temperature on the structure and on the hysteresis loops of Fe3+ doped Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3 system has been investigated. Three compositions have been selected in the following mode: one in rhombohedral region, one in MPB region and one in tetragonal region have been obtained by solid state reaction technique. Sintering has been carried out at 12000C and 12500C respectively. The nature of the phases has been investigated in detail using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). All the sintered samples reveal a perovskite type structure. The surfaces have been lapped and metalized in order to obtaine the hysteresis loops at room temperature. The results showed a similar behaviour with “hard” PZT ceramics.

High density graphite disks and aluminum nitride ceramics powders have been utilized to obtain joints by Spark Plasma Sintering technique. The joining was carried out in vacuum, at temperatures of 1700°C, 1800°C and 1900°C, under the pressure of 50 MPa with a constant dwelling time of 5 minutes The AlN ceramics to be joined were also synthesized by ceramic technology standard route by using AlN powders and 2.5 % wt.Y2O3 powders as sintering additive, which were added in order to increase densification rate and by thus, thermal conductivity. The joining of AlN/C was performed both without and with the aid of a ceramic powder composite AlN+Y2O3+C film, as interlayer. Besides the crystalline phases (AlN and C), the Al5Y3O12 compounds with a cubic crystallographic structure were identified by X-ray diffraction. The optical microscopy images revealed that all samples, both without and with film as interlayer, had strong joined areas, without any defects and discontinuities at interfaces. The Vickers microhardness and Young Modulus values measured by nanoindentation have shown that using of the film as intermediary layer was leading to the highest values of mechanical properties (HV = 8 – 23 GPa and E= 227-512 GPa) at the AlN/C joints interfaces.

Abstract0.88Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3 – 0.12Pb(Mn1/3Sb2/3)O3 – 0,02 at%E piezoelectric ceramics, with E = Pr3+ were synthesized by using a conventional method, namely a solid state reaction technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were employed for the structural and microstructural investigations. Piezoelectric methods were used for the dielectric and piezoelectric properties determination. The results of XRD show a perovskite structure and XRD patterns, indexing on a tetragonal cell structure, was carried out for the most common phases. The SEM micrographs of the sintered compositions reveal a homogenous structure with a sharp or rounded grain boundary. The modified PZT ceramic presents still superior piezoelectric properties. Based on the results obtained, one can conclude that the analysed piezoelectric ceramics are useful for device applications.