STABILIZATION OF THE PEROVSKITE PHASE IN PB(ZN-1 3, NB-2/3)O-3 CERAMICS MODIFIED BY BA(ZN-1/3, NB-2/3)O-3 AND BATIO3/

Stabilization of the perovskite phase in PZN-BT-BZN ceramics prepared by solid-state sintering was investigated. With the addition of BT and /or BZN, the amounts of perovskite phase in PZN ceramics increased, bu t the amount of pyrochlore phase decreased. Optimum calcination condit ions for this system, to obtain PZN ceramics with the minimum amount o f the pyrochlore phase, are a temperature range between 950 and 1000 d egrees C and a sintering time of 2-4 h. The perovskite phase of these systems could be 100% stabilized by the addition of more than 7 mol% B T, 8 and 10 mol% BTZN and BZN, respectively.