Effects of Microwave and Hot-Press Hybrid Sintering on Microstructure and Piezoelectric Properties of 0.24Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3·0.384PbZrO3·0.376PbTiO3 Ceramics

High-density ceramics with a composition of 0.24Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3·0.384PbZrO3·0.376PbTiO3 were fabricated in the sintering temperature range of 1050–1250°C by the hybrid sintering (HS) process using a 28 GHz microwave technique and hot pressing. Their physical properties were compared with those of specimens conventionally sintered (CS) at 1220°C. All the obtained HS specimens were confirmed to have the single-phase perovskite structure in the present sintering temperature range. The average grain size of the HS specimens sintered at 1100–1250°C was estimated to be around 3.1–3.8 µm; that (= 3.1 µm) of HS specimens sintered at 1100°C was larger than that (= 3.0 µm) of CS specimens. The highest electromechanical coupling factor, kp, reached approximately 68% in the sintering temperature range of 1130–1220°C. The remanent polarization, Pr, and the coercive field, Ec, of the HS specimens which exhibited a slim and rectangular P–E hysteresis loop were 44 µC/cm2 and 9 kV/cm, respectively. The highest kp of approximately 68% and the optimal sintering temperature of 1130°C were obtained by means of hybrid sintering.