Processing, structural and humidity sensing properties of PbTiO3ceramic synthesized by solid state reaction

Perovskite lead titanate PbTiO3(PT) powder and ceramics were synthesized using solid state reaction technique. The PT single phase powder was detected by X-ray diffraction where the phase obtained by sintering at 700 degrees C for 2 h. Morphology of the ceramics powder were studied using SEM-EDS. It was found that the particle size tend to increase with increasing sintering temperature. Hot stage microscope has been used to investigate the sintering curve of the calcined powder. The pure calcined powder was prepared as humidity sensors by the screen-printing technique. Thereafter, DC resistance measurements were performed in the presence of relative humidity at room temperature where the powder shows a poor sensitivity towards relative humidity. The phase transition from ferroelectric to paraelectric was identified by differential thermal analysis, and was detected at 493 degrees C. The difference between using alumina and platinum crucibles during processing has been discussed.