Low‐Temperature Densification of Lead Zirconate‐Titanate with Vanadium Pentoxide Additive

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Abstract
Additions of 0.1 to 6.0 wt% V2O, to lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics promoted rapid densification below 975°C, thereby eliminating the need for PbO atmosphere control The base PZT, Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3, was prepared by coprecipitation from mixed oxides and butoxides. The V2O5was incorporated as a batch addition during the PZT coprecipitation process, as mill additions to the calcined precipitated powder, and to a commercial PZT powder. Densification rates were enhanced by the addition of V2O5(>98% of theoretical density was obtained in ∼15 min at 960°C by the addition of 0.1 to 1.0 wt% V2O5, compared to 4 h at 1280°C for the base PZT). Dielectric properties and piezoelectric coefficients varied slightly within the optimum range of 0.25 to 1.0 wt% V2O5addition but were at least comparable to the base PZT. Indications are that V2O5becomes incorporated into the surface layers of the oxide powders during mixing (or in the coprecipitation process) and that the accelerated densification is due to enhanced surface activation and liquid‐phase sintering.