High temperature stress-induced double loop-like phase transitions in Bi-based perovskites

Polycrystalline 0.94(Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3-0.06BaTiO(3) samples were tested under uniaxial mechanical compression at various temperatures in the vicinity of the polar tetragonal to nonpolar tetragonal phase boundary. They are shown to display double loop-like stress-strain behavior, marked by a closed ferroelastic hysteresis loop. Thus, it forms a mechanical analog to the polarization-electric field hysteresis behavior of barium titanate above the Curie temperature. As temperature is increased there is an apparent loss of macroscopically observable ferroelasticity, despite the persistence of tetragonality. Macroscopic experimental results are discussed in conjunction with temperature-dependent and stress-dependent high-energy x-ray diffraction data. This reveals a phase transition below the Curie temperature, marked by a discontinuous change in lattice parameters and octahedral tilting during compressive mechanical loading. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3428373]