Stability of pinning centers in fatigued lead-zirconate-titanate

After bipolar electric fatigue of bulk lead-zirconate-titanate ceramics, the well known reduced remnant polarization values are observed as well as an asymmetric strain hysteresis reflecting a macroscopic offset polarization. Thermal treatment and high electric fields each liberate the domain system from the microscopic defects responsible for the macroscopic offsets. High electric fields (4 E-c) only allow one to remove the type of pinning center inducing an offset polarization, while thermal treatment also removes more stable agglomerates and rejuvenates the material to almost its original properties. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.