Pressure-thermal hysteresis phenomena in BaTiO3 upon phase transition

The phase transition into the ferroelectric phase in barium titanate occurs in many stages with the appearance of nonlinear phenomena. The mixed nature of the transition: displacive and order-disorder type, causes the occurrence of a thermal hysteresis, which span depends significantly on the pressure imposed on the sample. Theoretical calculations performed within the framework of Landau phenomenological theory showed a nonlinear dynamics of the thermal hysteresis with pressure. The existence of unusual relaxation phenomena was predicted in the pressure range of 130–145 MPa. Experimental and theoretical studies have shown the periods of slowing down of the domain structure upon the evolution process, the duration of which depends on the pressure and quenching temperature. It was assumed that relaxation processes near the tricritical point are similar to those observed near the Curie temperature. Theoretically, the parameters recommended for further experiments using high-pressure differential scanning calorimetry were calculated. [Display omitted] •Thermal hysteresis has nonlinear dependence on pressure.•Tricritical behaviour in BaTiO3 occurs in pressure range 130–145 MPa.•Relaxation process at the tricritical point is similar as at the Curie temperature.•Thermal hysteresis occurs with formation of metastable intermediate states.•Metastable states can exist up to 5 h depending on pressure.