Low-temperature sintering of Nb/sub 2/O/sub 5/-added Pb(Zr,Ti)O/sub 3/ ceramics

We have attempted to lower the sintering temperature of Nb/sub 2/O/sub 5/-added Pb(Zr,Ti)O/sub 3/ (PZT) ceramics which is suitable material for practical actuators. The addition of perovskite-type complex oxides, BiFeO/sub 3/ (BF) and Ba(Cu/sub 0.5/W/sub 0.5/)O/sub 3/ (BCW) leads to the sintering conditions; 935/spl deg/C for 90 min without a deterioration of piezoelectric properties. The results are discussed based on the low-temperature sintering mechanism of MnO/sub 2/-added PZT ceramics with BF and BCW additives. It is suggested again that a precise control of the thickness of amorphous layer composed of PbO and CuO at grain boundaries is very effective for lowering the sintering temperature.