Processing of Pb(Zr{sub 0.52}Ti{sub 0.48})O{sub 3} (PZT) ceramics from microwave and conventional hydrothermal powders

Lead zirconium titanate (PZT) perovskite powders were synthesized without using any excess lead content by microwave hydrothermal method (M-H) at 122 C and conventional hydrothermal (C-H) method at 138 C. PZT powders prepared by both methods showed a particle size of less than 4 {micro}m. Pellets prepared from these powders and sintered at 1,250 C for 4 h, without any additives or sintering aids, showed densities in the range of 92--95% of theoretical density. Variation of relative permittivity and dissipation factor with temperature of these PZT pellets was studied. A maximum permittivity of 20,570, low dissipation factor of 0.002, and Curie temperature of 373 C were observed for sintered pellets prepared from PZT powders obtained by microwave hydrothermal method. The pellets prepared from PZT powders obtained by the conventional hydrothermal method showed a relative permittivity of 16,310, dissipation factor of 0.001, and Curie temperature of 351 C.