Microstructural evolutions, elastic properties and mechanical behaviors of W/Cr Co-doped Bi4Ti3O12 ceramics

For Aurivillius phase Bi4Ti3−xWxO12+x+0.2wt.% Cr2O3 (BTWx-C, x=0–0.1) ceramics prepared by a conventional ceramic process, plate-like grains with random orientations are formed there. The aspect ratio of grains increases after the doping of W for ceramics, at the same time the bulk density of ceramics decreases. The change of Poisson's ratio may be related to the change of bulk density, whilst the change of bond strength could be responsible for the change of Young's modulus. The large-grained samples tend to possess a lower frequency constant but a higher elastic compliance, as well as a lower hardness. Especially, a larger grain size provides a higher fracture toughness for the sample at x=0.05 due to the mechanism of crack deflection. The stress–strain curves of BTWx-C ceramics under a uniaxial compression load are characterized as three stages: linear elastic deformation, ferroelastic domain switch and microcrack propagation. The microcrack propagation along grain boundaries results in the final axial flerry of ceramics. Additionally, the fracture strength of ceramics may be largely influenced by the internal stress resulted from the paraelectric–ferroelectric phase transformation during sintering. [Display omitted] •Aspect ratio and bulk density of ceramics vary with the W content in opposite ways.•A larger grain size contributes to a higher toughness for BTW-yC ceramics.•Uniaxial compressive stress–strain curves are characterized with three stages.•Fracture strength may be largely influenced by the internal stress induced.