Lanthanum Dependence of Elastic and Piezoelectric Properties of PLZT Ceramics with a Zr/Ti Ratio of 65/35

The elastic and piezoelectric properties of PLZT ceramics with a 65/35 Zr/Ti ratio undergo pronounced changes as La is added to the structure. At the rhombohedral-tetragonal phase boundary, material constants plotted as functions of La concentration show strong discontinuities in slope; these discontinuities provide a precise means of locating the boundary. The radial-mode coupling factor, k_p , compliance coefficient, S₁₁ ^E , and piezoelectric coefficient, d₃₁ , attain peak values at the boundary, whereas Poisson's ratio, σ^E, and the resonance-frequency constant exhibit pronounced minima. This behavior is evidence of the increasing ferroelastic sensitivity of the material as the distortion angle of the rhombohedral phase approaches a minimum.