The differential thermal analysis behavior of lead zirconate titanate materials

Abstract

Differential thermal analysis has been used to examine the reactions involved in the formation of lead zirconate titanate and related materials. The reaction of PbO and TiO 2 produced an exothermic peak near 600°C, while mixtures of PbO and ZrO 2 gave endothermic peak at 760°C. Lead titanate and lead zirconate mixtures showed no evidence of reaction below 900°C. Evidence is presented which suggests that PbO and PbTiO 3 react in the vicinity of 750°C. For ternary mixtures of PbO, titanate, the thermograms indicate a complicated behavior between 600–800°C, depending on the ratios of the reactant materials. The results suggest that the calcination reaction to form lead zirconate titanate is a more complex process than has been recognized. Data on the various phase transitions for the lead zirconate titanate materials are also presented.