Effect of slurry loading and diameter of vermicelli on thickness of PZT microtubes by dip coating process

The effect of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) powder loading in the slurry on wall thickness of PZT microtubes formed by dip coating on vermicelli of diameters about 500 and 1000 μm has been reported. The vermicelli of 1000 μm diameter withstand longer dipping time (8 min) compared to vermicelli of diameter 500 μm (2 min). The wall thickness of the PZT microtubes formed by dip coating increased with both slurry loading and dipping time. The PZT microtubes by dip coating on vermicelli of 1000 μm diameter have thicker walls than that obtained with vermicelli of diameter ∼500 μm due to higher water absorption capacity of the former. Microtubes of PZT with wall thickness in the ranges of about 125 to 280 μm and about 220 to 480 μm could be prepared by dip coating of slurries of PZT powder loading in the range of 40·2 to 46·5 vol.-% on vermicelli of diameters 500 and 1000 μm respectively.