The effect of high energy mechanochemical processing on the microstructure, piezoelectric, ferroelectric and mechanical properties of PLZT ceramics

Abstract

Lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramics were synthesized using a high energy mechanochemical processing technique, using tungsten carbide grinding vials and balls. The ceramic powders were prepared using the constituent oxide powders, which were subjected to high energy milling, without the use of any excess PbO in the starting composition. TEM studies revealed the formation of very fine particles of the order of 30 nm, due to the milling effect. Highly dense ceramics could be prepared via sintering which resulted in ultra-high strains in these piezoelectric samples of up to 0.25%, a value which has not been reported hitherto by any other known process. The effect of the reduction in particle size on the microstructure, mechanical and electrical properties of PLZT ceramics were studied and are discussed herein.

Chemical synthesis, structural, thermo-physical and electrical property characterization of PLZT ceramics

“…6. These values are comparable to ones reported by Kong et al [13] on samples synthesized via the solid-state sintering route, but are significantly lower than those observed in samples synthesized via the high energy mechanochemical processing route by our group [14]. Application of higher electric fields was limited by the increased conductivity of the samples.…”

Direct mechanosynthesis of pure BiFeO3 perovskite nanoparticles: reaction mechanism

“…48 Various ferroelectric compounds have been produced via the high-energy mechanical milling processes, such as barium titanate and barium titanate composites, 49,50 lead titanate 51 and lead lanthanum zirconate titanate. 52 The mechanochemical synthesis of BiFeO 3 [24][25][26] has also been reported in the literature, but the study of the factors inuencing the kinematic of the mill on the reaction kinetic as well as the study of the reaction mechanism induced by mechanical treatment are still missing.…”

Mechanically activated PLZT ceramics: Structural and electrical properties

“…For various reasons mentioned in detail in an earlier paper by the present authors [14], it is highly desirous to achieve ultra-large strains in a material with no or limited hysteresis. This condition has been achieved through careful materials engineering.…”

“…Further analyses would be required to get a better understanding of the same. A study of shrinkage as a function of sintering temperature and sintering time has been carried out and the sintering kinetics of PLZT ceramics have been studied and explained in detail in our previous work [12,14]. A study of density variation as a function of sintering temperature is yet to be done.…”