Preparation and temperature dependence of electrostriction properties for PMN-based composite ceramics

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Abstract

Both low- and high-temperature units were prepared by columbite precursor method, and Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3(PMN)-based ferroelectric composite ceramics were prepared by conventional method, baking-block method and coating method, respectively. The effects of preparation methods on dielectric and electrostriction properties as well as the temperature-dependence property of the obtained composite ceramics were studied. The results show that compared with the samples prepared by traditional blend sintering method, of the samples prepared by baking-block and coating methods have much better dielectric and electrostriction properties. For those prepared by baking-block method, the electrostriction temperature-dependence properties are good in the range of 20–60 °C. For those prepared by coating method, the dielectric temperature-dependence properties are also good in the broad range of −30 to 70 °C, and the electrostriction temperature properties are better than those prepared by blending-block. Compared with the traditional blending sintering method, the dielectric and electrostriction temperature-dependence properties are much better, which effectively solves the problem of temperature properties existing in present engineering applications.

Introduction

Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3(PMN)-based relaxor ferroelectric composite ceramics has been widely studied in recent years, and it is recognized as an ideal material because of its good dielectric, piezoelectric and electrostriction properties. Recently, it has been applied in precision machine tools and aviations [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], actuators medical imaging systems [6], [7] and bionics aircrafts [8], [9], [10]. However, presently, the temperature-dependence property of Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3(PMN)-based relaxor ferroelectric composite ceramics has been the key problem in practical engineering applications. Kim and Jang [11] studied the temperature stability of Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) by La-doping, and Yamashita [12] studied the composite sintering method of PZN Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3-based ceramics. In addition, Park [13] and OH [14] also studied the temperature stability of PMN-PT ceramics. However, the effect is not very good. To date, there have been few reports about improving the temperature stability by using new coating and baking-block process [15].

Liquid-phase coating process means that the surface of grain is coated with retarders, preventing units from solidifying. Improving the surface properties of the powder is the development of that of nubbly solid, and the new surface properties of grains can be obtained by using the liquid-phase coating process to improve the molding, sintering and grain boundary properties, so ceramics with good properties can be attained [15], [16]. PMN-based composite ceramics with good dielectric temperature stability prepared by liquid-phase coating process is rarely reported.

In this work, Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 PMN-based ferroelectric composite ceramics were prepared by conventional method, baking-block method and coating method, respectively. The effects of preparation methods on the properties of dielectric, electrostriction and their temperature dependence for the obtained composite ceramics were studied. The purpose of this paper is to investigate temperature-dependence properties of dielectric and electrostriction for PMN-based composite ceramics prepared by baking-block and coating method and hence to provide theoretical and experimental foundations for practical engineering applications.

Section snippets

Blending sintering method

Reagent-grade oxide and carbonate powders of MgO(>98%), Nb2O5(>99%), Pb3O4(>99%), TiO2(>99%) were used as starting raw materials. Before weighed, these powders were firstly dried in an oven at 110 °C for 5 h separately. The calcined powders for both the high-temperature unit (0.82PMN-0.18PT, Curie temperature Tm = 76 °C) and the low-temperature unit (0.88PMN-0.12BT, Curie temperature Tm = −47 °C) were prepared by columbite precursor method at 850 °C for 4 h. The sintering temperature is 1200 °C for 2 h for

Dielectric and electrostriction properties of single-phase ceramics

The dielectric properties of 0.82PMN-0.18PT and 0.88PMN-0.12BT ceramics are shown in Fig. 1(a) and (b). It can be seen that the dielectric temperature-dependence properties of two single-phase sample are not good. This is mainly because the phase structure of the two units is uniform and strong solidification occurs. Fig. 2(a) and (b) shows electrostriction properties of the single-phase ceramics ((a) 0.82PMN-0.18PT ceramics and (b) 0.88PMN-0.12BT ceramics). It can be observed that the

Conclusions

  • 1

    Electrostriction temperature-dependence properties of PMN-based composite ceramics prepared by baking-block was prominently improved. When the sintering temperature is 1150 °C, the electrostriction properties is good in the range of 20–60 °C (TPE% = 16%), and the electrostrictive strain is 6 × 10−4. This is very valuable in practical engineering applications.

  • 2

    It is the coating method that can improve the dielectric temperature properties of ferroelectric composite ceramics prominently, and when the

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 10804130 and 60871027).

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