Microstructure and electrical properties of (Ba0.85Ca0.15)(Zr0.10Ti0.90)O3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics prepared by spark plasma sintering

The (Ba 0.85 Ca 0.15 )(Zr 0.10 Ti 0.90 )O 3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics was prepared by a spark plasma sintering technique, and the microstructure and electrical properties of (Ba 0.85 Ca 0.15 )(Zr 0.10 Ti 0.90 )O 3 lead-free piezoelectric ceramics prepared by spark plasma sintering technique was investigated systematically. The result revealed that, compared with a conventional sintered (Ba 0.85 Ca 0.15 )(Zr 0.10 Ti 0.90 )O 3 ceramics, a high relative densities of 99 % was achieved in (Ba 0.85 Ca 0.15 )(Zr 0.10 Ti 0.90 )O 3 ceramics sintered at 1450 °C for 3 min, suggesting a very highly dense microstructure was developed by employing the spark plasma sintering technique. A relatively small grain size and the existence of internal stress was formed in (Ba 0.85 Ca 0.15 )(Zr 0.10 Ti 0.90 )O 3 ceramics prepared by spark plasma sintering technique showed by the SEM and XRD, resulting in the degradation of piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties, while an enhancement in dielectric constant.