The temperature dependence of sound velocities, elastic constants and acoustic attenuation of lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (Pb,La)(Zr,Ti)O3

Sound velocities, elastic constants, and acoustic attenuation in PLZT (lead lanthanum zirconate titanate) 9/65/35 bulk ceramic material have been determined by ultrasonic techniques between 1.2 and 470 K. Anomalous elastic behavior, including a broad dip in sound velocity and a sharp cusp in attenuation, was observed around the diffuse phase transition at 330 K. The sound velocity increases strongly and linearly with decreasing temperature at low temperatures. This behavior is different from that predicted by the Debye lattice model. An unusually large (42%) discrepancy between the elastic Debye temperature and the calorimetric Debye temperature was found and can be attributed to the nature of the disorderness in this ceramic material