Lead zirconate titanate-lead silicate piezoelectric glass-ceramics

Piezoelectric glass-ceramics consisting of lead zirconate titanate in a lead silicate matrix have been developed. A small region of compositions in this system yield the desired combination of glass formability, densification and crystallization behavior, and piezoelectric properties. SiO₂ is required for glass formability, while excess PbO allows low temperature processing. The amounts of these constitutes are limited by the optimization of piezoelectric properties. Selected compositions were melted and roller quenched to form amorphous ribbon. The glass ribbon was processed using two methods, either by directly heat treating to crystallize the PZT phase, or by ball milling into a glass powder. Pressed glass powders of selected compositions in this system densify to closed porosity at 850°C with piezoelectric d₃₃ and g₃₃ coefficients of 38 pCM and 33×10^-3 Vm/N. This research demonstrates the feasibility of developing piezoelectric glass-ceramics with low processing temperatures that utilize powder processing techniques, such as pressing, screen printing, or tape casting, and indicates the potential incorporation of these materials into low-fire multilayer packages as sensors or actuators