Processing and characterization of new members of Pb-K-niobate series

It is shown that by mixing the two ferroelectric compounds lead niobate and potassium niobate in different proportions a whole set of new materials can be obtained. Some of these compositions are found to be ferroelectric in nature and behave in accordance with the amount of potassium doping in the lead niobate. The new materials have the general formula of Pb/sub 1-x/K/sub 2x/Nb/sub 2/O/sub 6/. Four new members of this class of materials have been processed, with x values of 0.23, 0.34, 0.43, and 0.50. The densified ceramic samples have been characterized, and it has been found that the first two are ferroelectric while the other two are not. Results for PKN with x=0.23 and x=0.34 are tabulated in comparison with the standard material with x=0.20.<
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