[en] This paper describes the methods applied to the some chemical analysis of PZT ceramics during processing, and particularly in the finished ceramic, since small compositions changes can produce marked changes in final piezoelectric properties. Data on two samples (powder and high-fired ceramic material) are presented. The major constituents - Pb,Zr and Ti; nine trace elements and compound concentrations - Nb,C, Si, Al, Sr, free lead oxide, acid-insoluble matter, free oxygen and crystalline phases were determined using x-ray fluorescence, x-ray diffraction, thermal neutron activation, direct combustion, atomic absorption, vacuum fusion/gas chromatography, gravimetry, titrimetry and spectrophotometry. The major constituents were determined by more than one method, with good agreement between the various methods. (author)

[en] Published in summary form only

[en] We are conducting a comprehensive experimental study of the electromechanical behavior of poled PZT 95/5 (lead zirconate titanate). As part of this study, eight plane-wave tests have been conducted on axially poled PZT 95/5 at stress levels ranging from 0.9 to 4.6 GPa, using VISAR and electrical diagnostics. Observed wave velocities were slightly decreased from ultrasonic velocity, by contrast' with unpoled samples. Compression waveforms show a step at 0.6 GPa more marked than for normally poled or unpoled samples; this may correspond to a poling effect on the ferroelectric/antiferroelectric transition. A similar step is observed on release. The released charge upon loading to 0.9 GPa is consistent with nearly complete depoling. Loading to higher stresses gave lower currents (factor of 10), suggesting shock-induced conductivity or electrical breakdown

[en] Lead Zirconate Titanates (PZTs) are most widely used piezoelectric material for various applications in aerospace and defence sector, consumer products, medical devices etc. These materials can also be used for transforming ambient vibrations into electrical energy that can be stored and used to power low powder electronic devices. At CSIR-NAL, PZT devices such as multilayered (ML) stacks, bimorphs, unimorphs etc were fabricated by tape casting techniques. It is observed that the output energy increased with increase in area of cross section and maximum 18 V was recorded for sample area of 313 mm^-2. Energy harvesting study of PZT unimorph was also measured with varying the force level form 0-4.5 N. The output voltage is increased with the increase in force level

[en] The study of Nb₂O₅ addition to ceramic PZT has shown alterations in the characteristic values with 0,125%; 0,5%; 1,0% and 1,5% in weight Nb₂O₅ have been characterized at 120⁰C in a capacitor circuit developped at our laboratory. (author)

No abstract available

[en] This paper reports on a smart, intermittent driven particle sensor with an airflow trigger. A lead zirconate titanate cantilever functions as the trigger, which detects an airflow change without requiring a power supply to drive the sensing element. Because an airflow change indicates that the particle concentration has changed, the trigger switches the optical particle counter from sleep mode to active mode only when the particle concentration surrounding the sensor changes. The sensor power consumption in sleep mode is 100 times less than that in the active mode. Thus, this intermittent driven method significantly reduces the total power consumption of the particle sensor. In this paper, we fabricate a prototype of the particle sensor and demonstrate that the optical particle counter can be switched on by the fabricated trigger and thus that the particle concentration can be measured. (paper)

[en] The electrical conductivity σ was measured continously in solid solutions of Pb(Zr_xTi_1-x)O₃ (0,50 ≤ x ≤ 0,55), between 200⁰C and 550⁰C. The results are interpreted assuming a mechanism of conduction of p-type semiconductor. Some composition shown a pronounced kink in the ln σ versus T curve near 300⁰C. The determinated activation energy E_a for the conduction mechanism lies between 0,90 eV and 1,10 eV for T ≤ T_c and between 0,65 eV and 0,75 eV for T > T_c (T_c - Curie temperature). (author)

[en] Published in summary form only

[en] Highlights: • Raman spectroscopy was used for studying the phase composition of thin PZT films. • Principal component analysis was applied to mixed phase PZT Raman spectra. • To define the phase content, a narrowed spectral range in the Raman spectra was used. • Spectral range selection was done by using biplots to represent the Raman spectra. • The quality of diagnostics of thin PZT films was significantly improved. The phase composition of thin lead zirconate titanate (PZT) films was studied under conditions of overlapping Raman spectra of the perovskite, pyrochlore, and substrate phases. Particular attention in the work is given to finding the spectral range according to which an analysis should be carried out. For this purpose, we used the representation of the original multidimensional data by means of biplots (dual graphs). Based on the results of the study, the content of perovskite and pyrochlore phases in growing PZT films was found.