Temperature Dependence of the Dielectric, Elastic and Piezoelectric Material Coefficients of Soft and Hard Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) Ceramics

Resonance characterisation has been used to determine the variation of the independent piezoelectric, elastic, and dielectric material coefficients, as well as the electromechanical coupling factors, of typical soft and hard lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics as a function of temperature ranging from -165degC to 195degC. The piezoelectric coefficients and the dielectric permittivities generally increased with temperature for both types of PZT whereas the elastic compliance coefficients exhibited broad peaks over parts of the temperature range. Thermal hysteresis was also observed over the temperature cycle.