Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 [PZT] Fibers-Fabrication and Measurement Methods

Fine scale lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and niobium substituted PZT (Nb-PZT) piezoelectric fibers were fabricated from sol-gel processed viscous "sol" using the "spinning" meth-odology developed for the continuous production of glass fibers. Subsequent drying and firing at above 750'C gave pure perovskite PZT and Nb-PZT fibers of 30 am in average diameter. Further densification and grain growth were evident for fibers fired at 1250'C. Experimental methods for the determination of dielectric and polarization properties were developed to overcome inherent electric field difficulty relevant to fine scale fibers. The method to polarize fibers in a continuous manner was also demonstrated using 120 pm diameter extruded PZT fiber. The dielectric constant and polarization hysteresis values of the sol-gel derived fine fibers were comparable with that of bulk ceramics. Preliminary single fiber mechanical pull tests indicated that the tensile strength of 30 pm diameter PZT fibers were similar to that of bulk ceramics, being in the range of 35-55 MPa.