Structural and Mechanical Properties of Ceramic Solid Solutions Na1-xLixNbO3 for x 0.06

Microstructure, material constants (Young modulus E, shear modulus G, Poisson ratio v), Vickers hardness HV and fracture toughness KIc of polycrystalline ferroelectrics Na1 - xLixNbO3 for x 0.06 were investigated to determine their dependence on lithium concentration. It has been shown that the Young modulus decreases with the increase of lithium concentration in NaNbO3 up to 2mol-percent. The highest variations of mechanical properties appearing for Na1 - xLixNbO3 at 2mol-percent concentration of lithium can be related to the occurence of a morphotropic limit for this concentration. The investigations of mechanical properties resulted in the possibility to asses the usability of this material for transducers and sensors that could work under load.