Characteristic of grain oriented (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-BaTiO3 ceramics

Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of grain oriented (Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃-BaTiO₃ ceramics were investigated in a process that the templated grain growth and hot pressing methods were employed. A ceramic composition in Bi-based perovskite structure family, (Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃-BaTiO₃, was chosen as a matrix material and plate shaped SrTiO₃ as a template. To examine the combined process effect on piezoelectric properties, three processes, conventional solid reaction, templated grain growth and the combine treatment of templated grain growth and hot-pressing, were compared. Specimen processed by templated grain growth and hot pressing methods exhibited better piezoelectric coefficient, d ₃₁ (−79.6 pC/N) and electromechanical coefficient, k ₃₃ (0.35) than those of the other specimens, fabricated by solid reaction and templated grain growth, respectively. The improved properties were attributed to reduction of pore existing in matrix, which is related to abnormal grain growth from SrTiO₃ template and its resultant heterogeneous shrinkage.