Synthesis and electrical characterization of tungsten doped Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O-3 ceramics obtained from a hybrid process

Pure and W-doped PZT ceramics (PZT and PZTW) were prepared by a hybrid process consisting in the association of polymeric precursor and partial oxalate methods. The phase formation was investigated by simultaneous thermal analysis (TG/DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The effect of W doping PZT and their electrical properties was evaluated. Substitution of W by Ti leads to an increase of Curie temperature and broadening of dielectric constant. A typical hysteresis loop was observed at room temperature and the remnant polarization was increased with the content of W. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PZT ceramics obtained from mechanochemically synthesized powders

PZT ceramics were obtained from the mechanochemically synthesized powders. Milling and sintering conditions were optimized based on results of density measurements, as well as on microstructural and electrical characterization. As a result, highly dense and homogeneous ceramics were obtained. Excellent microstructural properties resulted in good electrical properties. Samples showed values of dielectric constants reaching 12800 at the Curie temperature, as well as low dielectric loss under the optimal processing conditions. High values of remanent polarization, reaching 60 muC cm(-2), indicate high internal polarizability. (C) 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the mechanochemically prepared PZT ceramics

Mechanochemical synthesis was applied to obtain nanocrystalline powders of composition Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O-3 (PZT). Milling was performed in a planetary ball mill using vials and balls made of zirconia or steel-in order to investigate influence of milling media on the electrical properties of resulting ceramics. PZT ceramics showed high values for dielectric constant (epsilon(r)), reaching 970 at room temperature, as well as low dielectric loss (tandelta) under the optimal processing conditions. High values of remanent polarization (P-r) indicate high internal polarizability. The best samples showed piezoelectric strain constant d(33) = 347 pC/N and planar coupling factor k(P) = 0.44. Milling in ZrO2 medium prevents powder contamination and provides reproducibility of milling process. Also, PZT obtained from the powders milled in ZrO2 exhibited lower values of dielectric loss, in comparison with the PTZ obtained from the powders milled in Fe. This suggests that contamination of the powder with Fe could result in an increase of conductivity in final product. (C) 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

An approach to analyzing synthesis, structure and properties of bismuth titanate ceramics

The family of bismuth titanate, Bi(4)Ti(3)O(12) (BIT) layered-structured ferroelectrics materials is attractive from the viewpoint of such as their application as electronic materials dielectrics, piezoelectrics and pyroelectrics, because they are characterized by good stability of piezoelectric properties, a high Curie temperature and a good resistance vs temperature. Bismuth titanate (Bi(4)Ti(3)O(12)) powders can be prepared using different methods, depending if the creation will be film coating or ceramics. The structure and properties of bismuth titanate materials show a significance dependence on the applied synthesis method. In this review paper, we made an attempt to give an approach to analyszing the structure, synthesis methods and properties of bismuth titanate ferroelectrics materials.

Study of Ti-modified columbite route and the effect of lithium doping in 0.9PMN-0.1PT ceramics

The influence of lithium on the structural characteristics of PMN-PT ceramic was studied. The synthesis of PMN-PT powders using this precursor leads to the formation of high amount of perovskite phase. The insertion of Li(+) ions in B-site affects the microstructure because the rise in mass transport changes the mechanical characteristics of sintered ceramic. Higher values of K(m) and T(m) were gotten when lithium is inserted into perovskite phase. Secondary phase was found when lithium content increase beyond 1 mol%, besides the occurrence of transgranular fractures in sintered ceramic. Also, the additive acts increasing the relaxor behavior.

Dielectric properties of Na1-xLixNbO3 ceramics from powders obtained by chemical synthesis

Ultra-fine powders of Na1-xLixNbO3 (x=0; 0.06; 0.09; 0.12) were synthesized by the Polymeric Precursors Method. Such powders had their orthorhombic structures determined by X-ray diffraction and their surface area determined by BET isotherms (less than 10 m(2) g(-1)). Densification was followed by dilatometric study. The powders, calcined at 700 degrees C for 5 h, were sintered at 1290 degrees C during 2 h under ambient atmosphere with no application of extra pressure. The samples with relative densities higher than 95% were analyzed by impedance spectroscopy at room temperature, under a signal amplitude of 1 V-rms. Dielectric constants of about 180 and dielectric loss factor of about 0.03 were measured showing small dependence with frequency. The electrical properties were similar to those obtained for samples sintered by hot pressing. (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. Limited and Techna S.r.l. All rights reserved.

Densification and electrical conductivity of fast fired manganese-doped ceria ceramics

Reactive pure and manganese-doped (5% and 10 at.%) ceria nanosized powders were prepared by the polymeric precursor technique. Physical properties of powder materials were studied by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy. Characterization of powder compacts after fast firing at 1200 degrees C for 5 min was carried out by scanning electron microscopy and impedance spectroscopy measurements. The bulk apparent density of sintered pellets was determined for pellets of different compositions sintered at 1200 degrees C. A gradual decrease of the particle size occurs with increasing doping content. Relatively high values of apparent density were obtained after fast firing doped specimens at 1200 degrees C. DRIFT spectra evidence that a fraction of Mn ions was segregated onto particles surface. The electrical resistivity of sintered pellets reveals different mechanisms of conduction depending on the Mn content. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

ANISOTROPY OF ELECTRICAL-PROPERTIES IN ALPHA-FE2O3 CERAMICS

Electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power measurements carried out in a heamatite ceramic showed a strong anisotropy in directions normal and parallel to the uniaxial pressing direction. This behaviour is similar to that verified in alpha-Fe2O3 single crystal. The results suggest that the extended structural defects, generated during sintering, disturb the magnetic order on the (001) planes of alpha-Fe2O3 and limit the mobility of n type carriers.

Temperature dependence of fractal dimension of grain boundary region in SnO2 based ceramics

Fractal dimensions of grain boundary region in doped SnO2 ceramics were determined based on previously derived fractal model. This model considers fractal dimension as a measure of homogeneity of distribution of charge carriers. Application of the derived fractal model enables calculation of fractal dimension using results of impedance spectroscopy. The model was verified by experimentally determined temperature dependence of the fractal dimension of SnO2 ceramics. Obtained results confirm that the non-Debye response of the grain boundary region is connected with distribution of defects and consequently with a homogeneity of a distribution of the charge carriers. Also, it was found that C-T-1 function has maximum at temperature at which the change in dominant type of defects takes place. This effect could be considered as a third-order transition.

SiO2-PbF2-CdF2 glasses and glass ceramics

Lead-Cadmium fluorosilicate stable glasses were prepared and the vitreous domain region determined in the composition diagram. Characteristic temperatures were obtained from thermal analysis and the structural studies performed illustrate clearly the role played by lead atoms in the glasses crystallization behavior and the glass-forming ability of cadmium atoms. The occurrence of either a cubic lead fluoride or a lead-cadmium fluoride solid solution in crystallizing samples was found to be dependent on Er3+ doping. The optically active ions were found to concentrate in the crystalline phase and in fact play the role of nucleating agent as suggested from X-ray diffraction and EXAFS measurements. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of mechanical cycling on the flexural strength of densely sintered ceramics

Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of mechanical cycling on the biaxial flexural strength of two densely sintered ceramic materials.Methods. Disc shaped zirconia (In-Ceram Zirconia) and high alumina (Procera AllCeram) ceramic specimens (diameter: 15 min and thickness: 1.2 mm) were fabricated according to the manufacturers' instructions. The specimens from each ceramic material (N = 40, n = 10/per group) were tested for flexural strength either with or without being subjected to mechanical cycling (20,000 cycles under 50 N load, immersion in distilled water at 37 degrees C) in a universal testing machine (1 mm/min). Data were statistically analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (alpha = 0.05).Results. High alumina ceramic specimens revealed significantly higher flexural strength values without and with mechanical cycling (647 +/- 48 and 630 +/- 143 MPa, respectively) than those of zirconia ceramic (497 +/- 35 and 458 +/- 53 MPa, respectively) (p < 0.05). Mechanical cycling for 20,000 times under 50 N decreased the flexural strength values for both high alumina andSignificance. High alumina ceramic revealed significantly higher mean flexural strength values than that of zirconia ceramic tested in this study either with or without mechanical cycling conditions. (C) 2005 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Conductivity and F-19 NMR in PbGeO3-PbF2-CdF2 glasses and glass-ceramics

The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity and the F-19 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of PbGeO3-PbF2CdF, glasses and glass ceramics are investigated. The measured conductivity values of the glasses are above 10(-5) Skin at 500 K, and increase with increasing lead fluoride content. Activation energies extracted from the conductivity data are in the range 0.59-0.73 eV. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that in these oxyfluoride glasses lead fluoride rich clusters are dispersed in a metagermanate based matrix providing increasing mobility pathways for conducting ions. The conductivity of a sample of the glass ceramic of composition (mol%) 60PbGeO(3-)20PbF(2)-20CdF(2) was found to be smaller than that in the corresponding glass, suggesting that there are poor ionic conducting regions in the interface between the nanometer sized crystals. The temperature dependence of the F-19 relaxation times, measured in the range 100-800 K, exhibit the qualitative features associated with high fluorine mobility in both, glass and glass ceramics materials. We suggest that de-convolution of the spin-lattice relaxation rates observed in the glass ceramics shows that the observed high temperature rate maximum is associated with the diffusional motions of the fluorine ions in beta-PbF2 crystals. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.