Influence of extrinsic contribution on the macroscopic properties of hard and soft lead zirconate titanate ceramics

In this work, the contribution of the extrinsic effect to the macroscopic properties in soft and hard lead zirconate titanate ceramics is directly evaluated. Close to the room temperature, poled hard ceramics show an anomalous behavior, which is notably different from that of soft ceramics, not only in dielectric but also in piezoelectric and elastic responses. Hence, at room temperature their properties are thermally stable and the losses are unusually low. It is suggested that two mechanisms are present, with one mechanism inhibiting the other.