Fabrication and piezoelectric properties of PZT ceramics prepared by partial oxalate method

Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ (PZT) powders were synthesized by the partial oxalate method and the modified partial oxalate method. The difference between the two is the use of prereacted (Zr,Ti)O₂ (ZTO) in the former method. Compared with the conventional mixed oxide method, calcination temperature can be reduced to less than 700°C by both partial oxalate methods, and the resulting particle size is finer and more uniform. Using partial-oxalate-derived PZT powders, sintering temperatures can also be reduced to as low as 950°C without sacrificing desired dielectric and piezoelectric properties, such as relative permittivity, electromechanical coupling factor, and piezoelectric coefficient. The two partial oxalate methods yield ceramics with almost the same physical and electrical properties; thus, the production of ZTO powder does not seem to be necessary