Investigation of complex additives on the microstructure and properties of low-temperature sintered PZT using the Taguchi method

Abstract The effects of additives on the properties of doped lead zirconia titanate (PZT) processed by low-temperature sintering were investigated using a statistical technique known as Taguchi method. A set of levels at different wt.% of the additives was selected and an experiment was conducted with an L 9 orthogonal array. The results revealed that the properties of doped PZT ceramics sintered at 1050 °C were strongly influenced by the additives. Microstructures of the doped PZT were affected with increasing content of MnO 2 , Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 and Ba 2 TiSi 2 O 8 . The existence of second phases affected their properties. Densification, tetragonality and Curie temperature of the doped PZT were reduced with increasing contents of MnO 2 but k p and d 31 were relatively improved with 1 wt.% MnO 2 and Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 . Q m was strongly enhanced for higher doping of MnO 2 . Addition of Ba 2 TiSi 2 O 8 has no significant effect on the properties.