Processing of Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O-3 (PZT) ceramics from microwave and conventional hydrothermal powders

Lead zirconium titanate (PZT) perovskite powders were synthesized without u sing any excess lead content by microwave hydrothermal method (M-H) at 122 degrees C and conventional hydrothermal (C-H) method at 138 degrees C. PZT powders prepared by both methods showed a particle size of less than 4 mu m Pellets prepared from these powders and sintered at 1250 degrees C for 4 h , without any additives or sintering aids, showed densities in the range of 92-95% of theoretical density. Variation of relative permittivity and diss ipation factor with temperature of these PZT pellets was studied. A maximum permittivity of 20,570, low dissipation factor of 0.002, and Curie tempera ture of 373 degrees C were observed for sintered pellets prepared from PZT powders obtained by microwave hydrothermal method. The pellets prepared fro m PZT powders obtained by the conventional hydrothermal method showed a rel ative permittivity of 16,310, dissipation factor of 0.001, and Curie temper ature of 351 degrees C. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.