Multiferroic Ceramic Composites Based on PZT Type Ceramic and NiZnFe Ferrite

Multiferroic (ferroelectric-ferromagnetic) ceramic composites were obtained on the basis of a ceramic powder of PZT type, i.e. Pb(Zr0.51Ti0.49)O-3 + 0.2% at. Bi2O3 + 0.03% at. Nb2O5 + 0.06% at. MnO2 (marked as PZTBNM) and Pb0.84Ba0.16(Zr0.54Ti0.46)O-3 + 1.0% at. Nb2O5 (marked as PBZTN). Admixtured compositions constituted of a PZT type ferroelectric powder with nickel-zinc ferrite (Ni1-xZnxFe2O4) as the magnetic content in the composite. Synthesis of the composite content was performed using compact sintering in the solid phase, while densification of the synthesized powder was achieved using the pressure-less sintering method (conventional sintering method). For the obtained multiferroic ceramic composites XRD investigations were performed, as well as investigations of microstructure, EDS, dielectric and magnetic properties, impedance and electrical hysteresis loop. The tests showed the existence of a correlation between magnetic and electric subsystems in the composites. Thanks to the ferroelectric and magnetic properties of the composites obtained, materials of this type could be applied, for example, in new memory types or magnetoelectric transducers.