Investigation of the Compressive Material Properties of PZT and PMN

摘要

In U.S. Navy sonar transducers, me electroactive ceramics are subject to mechanical compressive stresses. However, there has been scant research to examine the mechanical effects of compressive loads on electroactive ceramics. The research reported herein measured material properties (compressive strength, Young's modulus, and Poisson's ratio) and studied the behavior in compression and under short circuit conditions of five commercially available lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and lead magnesium niobate (PMN) compositions. The electrostrictive PMNs are the weakest, and the piezoelectric PMN is me strongest, with the PZTs falling in between. The strength differences are attributed to differences in the fracture toughness values. The PZT ceramics exhibit nonlinear stress-train curves. Considerable hysteresis and the presence of a remnant strain exist upon unloading. This behavior is associated with the movement of 900 domains.