STRUCTURE-PROPERTY RELATIONSHIPS IN STRONTIUM BARIUM NIOBATE .2. QUENCHING AND ANNEALING EFFECTS

The effects of quenching and annealing have been studied in SrxBa1-xNb 2O6 (SBN x/(1 - x)) by dielectric spectroscopy and transmission electr on microscopy. The relaxer characteristics of the dielectric response were found to be suppressed after quenching from 800 degrees C. Subseq uent dielectric investigations during thermal cycling below 400''C rev ealed thermal hysteresis effects between consecutive heat and cooling measurements. The original relaxer characteristics of the as-grown sta te were completely recovered by thermal treatment near 400 degrees C. Similar changes in the relaxer characteristics were observed after que nching from 1000 degrees C. However, complete recovery was not obtaine d on subsequent thermal treatment until above 800 degrees C. Dark-fiel d imaging using 1/x[110] incommensurate reflections revealed a decreas e in the size of nonoelastic domains on quenching, and an increase in the size of needle-like nanopolar domains.