Microwave sintering of fine grained PLZT 8/60/40 ceramics prepared via high energy mechanical milling

摘要

Fine powders of lanthanum modified (Pb0.92La0.08)(Zr0.60Ti0.40) (PLZT 8/60/40) were processed by high energy mechanical ball milling. The ceramic pellets from these powders were sintered by using microwave sintering. Microwave processed ceramics were further investigated for their sintering behaviour, microstructure, dielectric and piezoelectric properties. The XRD pattern of PLZT shows a single phase formation except for the ceramics sintered at 1200 degrees C. Higher density and more uniform grain distribution were found for PLZT ceramics, microwave sintered at 1150 degrees C, in spite of having much shorter sintering time. As a result, comparable dielectric and piezoelectric properties were obtained for microwave sinterd PLZT ceramics. These show the grain size similar to 1.2 mu m, and the highest relative density similar to 99.46%. The dielectric constant for the unpoled PLZT ceramics was found to be similar to 2100. The piezoelectric charge (d(33)) and electromechanical coupling coefficient (k(p)) value for the PLZT ceramics were found to be, similar to 574 pC/N and similar to 67% respectively. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.