Effect of ZrO2 Doping on Crystal Structure, Microstructure and Phase Transition of Lead Titanate Ceramics

Abstract

In this work, the effect of ZrO2 doping on the properties of PbTiO3 ceramics was investigated. PbTiO3 powders were prepared via a mixed oxide method with a calcination temperature of 750 °C for 2 h. The various amounts of ZrO2, between 0 and 2 wt.%, were added to the calcined powders to decrease the c/a ratio. The mixed powders were sintered at 1225 °C for 2 h. The samples were characterized using X–ray diffractrometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). It was showed that the ZrO2 phase was not detected in all of the powder and ceramic samples. The highest density in the ceramics was found in the sample with 0.5 wt.% of ZrO2. The average grain size slightly increased with the increase of ZrO2. The phase transition temperature from tetragonal ferroelectric to cubic paraelectric was about 465 to 466 °C for all sintered samples.