Stabilities and piezoelectric properties of morphotropic phase boundary composition 0.2Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.38PbZrO3–0.42PbTiO3 ternary piezoceramics

The phase stabilities and piezoelectric properties of morphotropic phase boundary ternary piezoceramics (0.2Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 –0.38PbZrO 3 –0.42PbTiO 3 ) are investigated as a function of sintering conditions. The tetragonality ( c / a ) of the morphotropic phase boundary, where the rhombohedral and tetragonal phases coexist (space groups R 3 m and P 4 mm , respectively), is affected by the sintering temperature and time. This tetragonality affects the piezoelectric properties. The results demonstrate that a large tetragonality is undesirable for the piezoelectric properties. The structure and properties of morphotropic phase boundary piezoelectric materials are strongly correlated.