Electrical and mechanical properties of ferroelectric lead zirconate titanate/tungsten oxide ceramics

Abstract Ferroelectric PZT/ x WO 3 ceramics (when x = 0, 0.5, 1, 3 and 5 vol%) were fabricated from PZT and nano-sized WO 3 powders by a solid-state mixed-oxide method. Phase characterization suggested that the reaction between PZT and WO 3 occurred during the sintering. This reaction seemed more pronounced with increasing the content of WO 3 . The maximum density at approximately 97% of the theoretical value was achieved at 1 vol% of WO 3 addition. The grain size was reduced with an addition of WO 3 particles from ∼7.8 μm for PZT to ∼1.8 μm for 0.5 vol% WO 3 and ∼0.8 μm for 1–5 vol% WO 3 . Mechanical properties of PZT could be improved with an addition of WO 3 nano-particulates. The addition of 0.5 vol% WO 3 could maintain good electrical properties while increasing WO 3 significantly reduced dielectric and piezoelectric constants of the PZT.