Effect of sintering aid and repeated sol infiltrations on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of a PZT composite thick film

• Published in: Journal of the European Ceramic Society Vol. 22; no. 16; pp. 2921 - 2926
• Main Authors: Dorey, R.A., Stringfellow, S.B., Whatmore, R.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Building materials. Ceramics. Glasses; Ceramic industries; Chemical industry and chemicals; Composites; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Dielectric properties; Dielectric properties of solids and liquids; Dielectric, piezoelectric, ferroelectric and antiferroelectric materials; Dielectrics, piezoelectrics, and ferroelectrics and their properties; Electrotechnical and electronic ceramics; Exact sciences and technology; Niobates, titanates, tantalates, pzt ceramics, etc; Permittivity (dielectric function); Physics; Piezoelectric and electrostrictive constants; Piezoelectric properties; Piezoelectricity and electromechanical effects; PZT; Technical ceramics; Piezoelectric properties; Composites; PZT; Films; Dielectric properties; Electrical properties; Lead Titanates; Experimental study; Oxide ceramics; Piezoelectric ceramics; Composite material; Additive; Thick film; Sintering; Lead Zirconates; Infiltration; Manufacturing; Colloidal sol; Electroceramics
• ISSN: 0955-2219; 1873-619X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0955-2219(02)00062-6

Thick PZT films have been produced using a combination of spin coating of a composite slurry and subsequent infiltration of PZT producing sol. The effect of adding a Cu 2O–PbO sintering aid and repeated sol infiltrations have been studied with the aim of producing dense PZT films. Relative permittivity has been shown to increase with the addition of sintering aid and increased levels of sol infiltration. Measurements of piezoelectric properties indicate that sol infiltrations have no effect on d 33 once a critical density has been exceeded. A sample with approximately 10% closed porosity was obtained following the incorporation of sintering aid and four infiltration steps per layer. This resulted in a mean relative permittivity of approximately 700 and a d 33 of 62 pC/N (poling conditions: 8 V/μm for 5 min at 200 °C).