Mechanically activated PLZT ceramics: Structural and electrical properties

Ultrafine powders of (Pb0.92La0.08) (Zr0.60Ti0.40)O3 (hereinafter designated as PLZT) have been synthesized from oxide powders using the high energy ball milling technique in air atmosphere. The powders milled in agate vials using Yttria stabilized Zirconia (YTZ) balls, were all about 20 nm in size. XRD revealed the formation of a significant amount of the perovskite PLZT phase at room temperature itself. The bulk ceramic samples were subjected to electrical poling, prior to performing resonance measurements on them, in order to determine the piezoelectric and electromechanical coupling coefficients. Poled samples exhibited large strains under the influence of applied electric fields, with limited hysteresis. The effect of powder refinement on the structural and electrical properties of PLZT ceramics are correlated in this paper.