Photoacoustic analysis of the ferroelectric ceramics specific heat

Knowing the thermal expansion of a material and the correlation analysis of the photoacoustic signals, it is possible to obtain the phase transition t emperature and a qualitative curve of the specific heat at constant pressur e (C-p) for ceramic materials. This analysis was applied to a BaTiO3 ferroe lectric ceramic and a good agreement with previously published C-p versus t emperature curves was obtained. Additionally, the phase transition temperat ure and the C-p curve of a samarium-doped lead titanate ceramic (Pb0.88Sm0. 08TiO3) are presented. The phase transition temperature of the Pb0.88Sm0.08 TiO3 obtained with this technique was corroborated with classical different ial thermal analysis and dielectric permittivity measurements. (C) 2000 Ame rican Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)03845-6].