PZT ceramics formed directly from oxides via reactive sintering

Lead zicronate titanate ceramics with morphological boundary phase (PMP) composition (PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 or PZT) were prepared directly from their oxide mixture without involving calcination process. Sintering behavior of the oxide mixture showed that there was a volumetric expansion occurring at about 800 degreesC, which can be attributed to the reaction to PZT compound from the oxide mixture. A maximum sintering rate was observed at about 870 degreesC in the linear sintering rate curve, showing that the densification of the oxide mixture is significant than that of calcined powder. PZT ceramics sintered at 1100 degreesC for 1 h demonstrated a dielectric constant of 1157 at 1 kHz, a remnant polarization of 27.3 muC/cm(2) and coercive field of 21 kV/cm, respectively. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.