Sintering Behavior of PMnN-PZT Ceramics

The microstructure and the piezoelectric properties as well as the valency of Mn in Pb[(Zr0.52Ti0.48)0.95(Mn1/3Nb2/3)0.05]03 (PMnN-PZT) ceramics sintered at different temperatures from 1070℃ to 1280℃ were investigated by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS. The experimental results suggest that grain sizes, tetragonality and kp of the ceramics increase with the increase of sintering temperature, and Qm fluctuates with the increase of sintering temperature. The obtained results by X-ray photoelectron spectrum and TEM suggest that there exist apparently the liquid phase of PbO and stoichiometric composition departure during the sintering. Low temperature induces the existence of the Mn2+, producing more oxygen vacancies, and therefore the fluctuation of mechanical quality factor (Qm) with the sintering temperature occurs.