Parameter Optimization in the Synthesis of BZT Ceramics to Achieve Good Dielectric Properties

A Frattini,O De Sanctis,A Di Loreto

doi:10.1155/2013/393017

Abstract

The powder synthesis of barium zirconate titanate (BZT) (BaZrTiO3) from the mechanochemical activation of BaCO3, ZrO2, and TiO2 was studied. The grinding effect, by using a planetary ball milling, on the crystallization temperature of BZT powders was analyzed. X-ray diffractometry, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) were used as characterization methods. The crystallization behavior of powders activated by high-energy grinding and the effect of grinding time on the BZT crystallization were analyzed. After grinding by 4 h, the BaZr(0.05)Ti(0.95)O3 sample was almost fully crystallized at . The results of dielectric and ferroelectric properties show that high-energy ball milling is a practical and promising way to prepare BZT ceramics.

Highlights

Ferroelectric materials based in Pb have been studied for many years for its important applications in piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and optical devices [1,2,3,4,5]
The first two peaks match with weight losses, whereas no weight loss is seen for the last one. It is well known [15, 16] that the first two peaks correspond to reactions of BaCO3 decomposition and synthesis of BaTiO3, including the formation of a transient Ba2TiO4 phase
It is noted that the peak (1) is broader and deeper in Figure 2 which means further development of reaction (1) in the sample milled by 4 h and matches with the greater mass loss observed in the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curve

Summary

Introduction

Ferroelectric materials based in Pb have been studied for many years for its important applications in piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and optical devices [1,2,3,4,5]. BaTiO3 is the most widely used ferroelectric material in ceramic capacitors and is known for its large electrochemical coupling factor [2, 3]. Within BaTiO3 family, barium zirconate titanate (Ba(ZrxTi(1−x))O3, BZT) has become one of the most attractive materials because it has been reported that the zirconium substitutions into the titanium lattices enhance the dielectric and piezoelectric properties [6, 7]. Under common preparation conditions, BZT ceramics have very high sintering temperature that does not fit the industrial requirements. In order to decrease the sintering temperature, it is necessary to produce powders with fine particle sizes and homogeneous distribution

Objectives

Results

Conclusion