Studies on dielectric and mechanical properties of PZT doped ceramics, using a model of losses

A suitable manganese addition in lead zirconate titanate lowers losses of piezoceramics. An attempt is made to show how an equivalent electrical circuit taking into account the grain boundary and domain wall effects permits an analysis of the role of manganese addition on dielectric and mechanical losses in lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics. From an analysis of the experimental frequency dependence of both conductance and admittance, the parameters of the equivalent circuit are calculated. Computer simulations allowed identification of bulk, domain wall, and boundary layer effects and their frequency dependence.