Intermediate Temperature Sintering of La-Modified Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbZrO3-PbTiO3 Piezoelectric Ceramics

In order to realize the co-firing with Ag/Pd electrodes in multilayer devices, Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)(1-x-y) ZrxTiyO3(0.25 < x < 0.35, 0.25 < y < 0.35)piezoelectric ceramics thereafter designated PZN-PZT) modified by La2O3 has been prepared by conventional technique with sintering temperature from 1100 degreesC to 1140 degreesC. X-ray diffraction patterns demonstrated that pure perovskite phase was obtained. Secondary electron image (SEI) showed that crystalline grains in ceramics were well grown. d(33) of manufactured sample was as high as 560 x 10(-12)C/N. k(p) was about 0.61 and tg delta about 30 x 10(-3). The existence of liquid phase examined by electron diffraction in PZN-PZT sample is beneficial to sintering of the ceramic.