Microstructure and electrical properties of (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.10Ti0.90)O3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics prepared by spark plasma sintering

The (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.10Ti0.90)O3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics was prepared by a spark plasma sintering technique, and the microstructure and electrical properties of (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.10Ti0.90)O3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics prepared by spark plasma sintering technique was investigated systematically. The result revealed that, compared with a conventional sintered (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.10Ti0.90)O3 ceramics, a high relative densities of 99 % was achieved in (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.10Ti0.90)O3 ceramics sintered at 1450 °C for 3 min, suggesting a very highly dense microstructure was developed by employing the spark plasma sintering technique. A relatively small grain size and the existence of internal stress was formed in (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.10Ti0.90)O3 ceramics prepared by spark plasma sintering technique showed by the SEM and XRD, resulting in the degradation of piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties, while an enhancement in dielectric constant.