Abnormal grain growth of lead zirconium titanate (PZT) ceramics induced by the penetration twin

Lead zirconium titanate (PZT) ceramic specimens were prepared by liquid phase sintering with excess PbO. By the addition of a small amount of MgO, the grain shape was changed from spherical to angular. When SiO2 was further added, twin was induced in a few grains, which grew abnormally during heat treatment. Through the electron backscatter diffraction analysis and the observation of three-dimensional grain morphology, the abnormally grown large PZT grains were determined to be penetration twinned. Abnormal grain growth was suggested to be because of reentrant edges formed at the twinned grains.