SEM investigation of domain structure in (Ba,Ca,Pb)TiO3

In the present paper the microstructure and domain structure in modified Ba TiO3 with Pb and Ca as additives have been investigated using SEM technique . The (Ba,Pb)TiO3 and (Ba,Ca,Pb)TiO3 ceramics show a slight difference in g rain size, being smaller in composites with Ca additives which acts as gl a in growth inhibitor. The domain configuration is almost the same. The small grain microstructure with tiny domains have been observed in specimen sint ered at 1300 degrees C and the average grain size is in the range 1-3 mu m. For those specimens sintered at 1320 degrees C the homogenous microstructu re is also obtained with grain size around 2-4 mu m. For both types of spec imens, the single domain structure is associated with grain which size is l ower than 2 mu m. The banded domain structure could be observed in grains w ith size bigger than 3 mu m. The bar shape grains and elongated grains toge ther with some large region in microstructure are free of domain structure. The observed domain patterns reveal mainly the straight domain boundary li nes with 90 degrees domains walls. The wall thickness ranged from 0.03 mu m to 0.15 mu m, while the domain width is in the range of 0.1 mu m-1 mu m. ( C) 1999 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.