Sintering temperature-induced electrical properties of (Ba0.90Ca0.10)(Ti0.85Zr0.15)O3 lead-free ceramics

Effects of the sintering temperature on the microstructure and electrical properties of (Ba0.90Ca0.10)(Ti0.85Zr0.15)O-3 (BCTZ) lead-free piezoelectric ceramics have been studied, where these ceramics were prepared by the conventional oxide-mixed method at varied sintering temperatures from 1300 degrees C to 1500 degrees C. These BCTZ ceramics exhibits a phase transition from a rhombohedral phase to the coexistence of rhombohedral and tetragonal phases with an increase of sintering temperature. With an increase of sintering temperature, their relative density and average grain size gradually increase, and electrical properties are improved greatly. These BCTZ ceramics sintered at similar to 1440 degrees C have optimum electrical properties: d(33) similar to 442 pC/N and k(p) similar to 48.9%, making it a promising material for lead-free piezoelectric ceramics. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.