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

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 L9 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 MnO2, Bi4Ti3O12 and Ba2TiSi2O8. The existence of second phases affected their properties. Densification, tetragonality and Curie temperature of the doped PZT were reduced with increasing contents of MnO2 but kp and d31 were relatively improved with 1 wt.% MnO2 and Bi4Ti3O12. Qm was strongly enhanced for higher doping of MnO2. Addition of Ba2TiSi2O8 has no significant effect on the properties.