Domain switching under cyclic mechanical loading in lead zirconate titanate

The domain-switching behavior of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) during mechanical cyclic loading between 10 and 150 MPa was investigated by in situ time-of-flight neutron diffraction. The domain-switching behavior was represented by a change of the pole density distribution during cycling. With increasing number of cycles, domain switching becomes saturated, correlating with a decrease in the rate of remnant strain accumulation in the stress-strain curve. Moreover, a relationship was demonstrated between the macroscopic strain and that developed from ferroelastic domain switching. The contribution of ferroelastic strain to the macroscopic strain was calculated from an orientation average of the domain switching distributions and the c/a ratio. The results show that nearly 80% of macroscopic strain arises from ferroelastic domain switching during mechanical cyclic loading.