Synthesis of compositionally homogeneous Pb(ZrxTi1-x)1-(y)(Mg1/3Ta2/3)(y)O-3 by wet-dry combination method and its dielectric properties

Ternary perovskite-type solid solutions of Pb(ZrxTi1-x)(1-y)(Mg1/3Ta2/3)(y) O-3 (PZTMT) were synthesized by a wet-dry combination method in which a cop recipitation process was applied to B-site cations (Zr4+, Ti4+, Mg2+ and Ta 5+). The compositional homogeneity in calcined powders and dielectric prope rties of sintered ceramics were investigated. The powder X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that PZTMT powders prepared by the wet-dry combination me thod had no compositional fluctuation unlike that prepared by a conventiona l dry method. The sintered PZTMT prepared by the wet-dry combination method exhibited much higher dielectric constant than that prepared by the conven tional dry method. The improvement of the compositional homogeneity and the density led to the improvement of the dielectric properties. (C) 2001 Publ ished by Elsevier Science B.V.