Comparison of two molten flux process for the elaboration of textured PZT thin plates

In this paper, we describe a new protocol for the elaboration of textured PZT thin plates. This protocol is based on three steps: (i) powder synthesis, (ii) tape casting/lamination in green state and (iii) sintering/densification. Powder synthesis is operated through a specific molten flux method, which in optimised conditions allows the crystallisation of coarse and cubic shape grains of PZT. The powder is extracted from the flux by acidic attack, washing and filtration. It is used as raw material to elaborate a slip with organic media in order to achieve thick tapes that exhibit preferred orientations of the PZT phase. The crystallographic textures are measured on a four-circle X-ray diffractometer and determined using the so-called "combined approach" that uses Rietveld and orientation distribution function refinements. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.