Low‐Temperature Sintering and High‐Strength Pb(Zr,Ti)O3‐Matrix Composites Incorporating Silver Particles

Lead zirconate titanate based composites containing silver particles were fabricated from commercially available PZT and Ag2O powder mixtures. Densification behavior and mechanical and dielectric properties were evaluated as a function of the volume fraction of silver. No unwanted reaction phases between the PZT matrix and silver could be detected in the X-ray diffraction analysis. The added silver particles were homogeneously dispersed in the matrix. The densification of PZT was substantially accelerated by the addition of silver particles. Mechanical properties, e.g., fracture toughness and fracture strength, were improved by the addition of silver particles. The relative dielectric constant also increased when the volume fraction of silver was increased. This observed enhancement in dielectric constant may be associated with the effective dielectric field developed by the existence of conducting silver particles.