Stress-induced effects in PLZT ceramics

Soft, high lead-containing ferroelectric ceramic materials such as PLZT are known to be highly vulnerable to the effects of mechanical stress at room and elevated temperatures as a consequence of their ferroelastic and pyroplastic natures which are usually manifested in some form of nonlinear behaviour within the material. Examples of such behaviour include: (1) hydrostatic and shock-wave stimulated structural phase transformations as in stress-induced depoling of explosive-to-electrical (EET) transducers, (2) mechanically stimulated domain reorientation as in shape memory effects and Rainbow de,ices, (3) mechanically stimulated electrooptic effects as in ferroelectric picture (Ferpic) devices and Rainbows, (4) mechanically stimulated strength effects and (5) thermo-mechanically stimulated dimensional changes as in high temperature creep. The improved utility or increased sensitivity of these materials as a result of stress-enhancing techniques is described.