Mechanochemical synthesis of lead zirconate titanate from mixed oxides

High-density lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics have been successfully prepared by using a novel mechanochemical fabrication technique, which skip s the phase-forming calcination at an intermediate temperature that is alwa ys required in the industrial processes currently in use. The fabrication t echnique starts with mixing of the low-cost industrial oxide powders, and t he designed PZT perovskite phase is formed by reacting the oxide constituen ts in a mechanochemical chamber that consists of a cylindrical alumina vial and one stainless-steel ball inside it. The solid-state reaction among con stituent oxides is activated via mechanical energy instead of high temperat ure. When mechanochemically activated for 20 h, an ultrafine PZT powder of perovskite structure with a minimized degree of particle agglomeration is o btained, The resulting PZT powder sinters to 99.0% of theoretical density a t 1100 degrees C for 1 h. The sintered PZT ceramic exhibits a dielectric co nstant of 1340 and a dielectric loss of 0.6% at a frequency of 1 kHz at roo m temperature.