Piezoelectric properties, densification behavior and microstructural evolution of low temperature sintered PZT ceramics with sintering aids

Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3 Ceramics can be made densified at as low as 800°C for 2 h by incorporating LiBiO2+CuO as the sintering aids. It exhibits high dielectric constant 1000–1300 and coupling factor 55–60% over a wide temperature range 800–1000°C. The optimal properties were obtained for the ceramics sintered at 880°C for 2 h. The densification behavior was investigated by using nonisothermal techniques. In the densification curve, the three sintering stages were found for Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3 ceramics with the sintering aids at a certain addition amount. The additives were characterized by TG-DSC. The microstructure development of the ceramics was observed by SEM and compared to that of Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3 ceramics. XPS was used to analyze the distribution of the additives in sintered ceramics.