Manganese and Antimony Doped Lead Zirconate Titanate Ceramic Fibers and Fiber/Epoxy 1—3 Composites

Abstract

Manganese and antimony doped lead zirconate titanate [Pb(Sb_2/3 Mn_1/3)_0.08(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48) _0.92O₃, PSM—PZT] fibers were prepared by the sol-gel method. The micrographs obtained using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) show that the diameter of the fibers was about 50 μm. The crystalline grains size was 3 ~ 12 μm depending on the sintering temperature. X-ray diffraction patterns show that PSM-PZT ceramic fibers sintered at 1285°C have a pure perovskite structure. The ceramic fiber/epoxy 1—3 composites were fabricated by filling the ceramic fiber bundle with epoxy. The dielectric permittivity ε, electromechanical coefficient k_t and the piezoelectric constant d₃₃ of 1—3 composites with 50% fiber loading were 760, 0.67, and 178pC/N, respectively. The hysteresis loop of the composites was measured by a Radiant ferroelectric test system. The results show that the composites could withstand an electric field of 8 kV/mm at room temperature. The effect of pre-poling on symmetry of the hysteresis loop was investigated.