Fabrication and characterization of (Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3, Pb(Yb1/2Nb1/2)O3, PbTiO3) ternary system ceramics

Abstract

New ternary compositions in the Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-Pb(Yb1/2Nb1/2)O-3-PbTiO3 (PMN-PYbN-PT) system were prepared using 0.5Pb(Yb1/2Nb1/2)O3-0.5PbTiO(3) (PYbNT) and (1-x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-xPbTiO(3) (x = 0.26; PMNT26 or x = 0.325; PMNT32.5) powders synthesized via the columbite method. Dense (>= 96% of theoretical density) ceramics with PMN/PYbN mole ratios of 25/75 (R-25), 50/50 (R-50) and 75/25 (R-75T and R-75R) were fabricated by reactive sintering at 1000 degrees C for 4 h. Therefore, incorporation of PYbNT to PMNT successfully decreased sintering temperature of PMNT from 1200 degrees C-1250 degrees C to 1000 degrees C. Samples with higher density and perovskite ratio together with lower weight loss possessed higher dielectric and piezoelectric values in each composition. The R-75 samples had remanent polarization (P-r) values of 34-36 mu C/cm(2) and piezoelectric charge coefficient (d(33)) of 560 pC/N. The sharp phase transition PMNT as a function of temperature became broader or more diffuse with increasing PYbNT content. However, PYbNT addition to PMNT increased Curie temperature (T-c) from 183 degrees C (for PMNT32.5) to 220-242 degrees C (for R-75T and R-75R) to 336 degrees C (for R-25). Therefore, these ternary compositions can be tailored for various high temperature applications due to the relatively higher T-c with enhanced piezoelectric and dielectric properties as compared to PMNT. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.