Shaped articles on basis of PZT(Pb(Zr,Ti)03, lead zirconate-lead titanate), process and intermediate product for their production

The endless PZT fiber is a lead zirconate-lead titanate mixed substance and is made by a method including the steps of mixing an organic zirconium compound, Zr(OR1)4, and an organic titanium compound, Ti(OR2)4, R1 and R2 each being a C1- to C10-alkyl group, separately or together with 0 to 4 moles of at least one alcohol of the formula R3-X-R4-OH or R3-CX-R4-OH, X being O, S or an amine group and R3 and R4 each being a C1- to C10-alkyl group, per mole of the zirconium and titanium compounds; reacting the zirconium compound and titanium compounds in the resulting mixture or mixtures with one to three moles of at least one C2- to C10-carboxylic acid per mole of the zirconium and titanium compounds to form at least one reaction mixture; mixing the at least one reaction mixture from the reacting step with 1 to 1.5 moles of one or more Pb(II)-carboxylates and/or Pb(IV)-carboxylates per mole of the zirconium and titanium compounds to form a combined mixture; subjecting this combined mixture to a hydrolytic condensation and then removing the volatile components from it to form a solid mass at ambient temperatures; heating the solid mass at 150 DEG C. until a viscous liquid is formed; drawing the PZT fiber from the viscous liquid and heating it at a temperature at least equal to 500 DEG C.