Preparation of Pb(Zr,Ti)O3–Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 piezoelectric ceramics by dry–dry method

Ternary perovskite ceramics of Pb[(Zr0.5Ti0.5)0.8−x(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.2+x]0.98Nb0.02O3.01 (PZTMN, x = −0.075, −0.05, −0.025, 0, 0.025, 0.05, and 0.075 ), are synthesized via dry–dry method. B-site precursors of PZTMN ([(Zr0.5Ti0.5)0.8−x(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.2+x]0.98Nb0.02O2.01, ZTMN) can be synthesized via a two-step solid state reaction method. The first calcination temperature is 1,300 °C, and the second is not higher than 1,360 °C. Incorporation of magnesium and niobium ions promotes the formation of the single phase solid solution with ZrTiO4 structure. Single phase perovskite PZTMN is formed at 780 °C, much lower than that in conventional process. Dense ceramics can be sintered at about 1,260 °C with dielectric and piezoelectric properties comparable to that of wet–dry method and higher than that of conventional method. It seems that B-site precursor method is cost effective in preparation of ternary piezoelectric ceramics.