Fabrication and Characterization of Two-Layered PZT-ZrO2 Discs Through Cold Isostatic Pressing for Improved Life
摘要
Pure and monolithic lead zirconate titanate (PZT) sensors break very easily and life is low. PZT disc and stacks are the main components for various applications like gas lighter, ammunition ignition, hydrogen gas ignitors, and various sensors for ultrasonic applications. There is need to enhance fracture toughness of the PZT material for the longevity of the sensor components. The aim of this work is to increase the fracture toughness of PZT by incorporation of zirconium. CIP (cold isostatic pressing) is one of the most economic and standard techniques for fabrication of uniformly dense components/pellets. A two-layered disc (100% PZT (1.5 mm)/80%PZT-20%ZrO2 (1.5 mm)) via cold isostatic pressing (CIP) is fabricated. Silver paste electrodes are created on the faces of the samples for polarizing at 1 kV/mm electric field in silicon oil bath at 100 °C. Sample X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) have been done for the crystallographic, microstructural and compositional analysis. The sample is analyzed under d33 meter and LCR meter for electrical properties. Uniform grain size of 1.9 ± 0.7 µm is observed and well-defined interface between the layers, indicating successful synthesis and uniform distribution of the constituents. The piezoelectric coefficient d33 and resonance frequency of the material is found to be 200 pC/N and 261 kHz, respectively. The work opens the field for developing functionally graded PZT material for enhancing the performance of piezoelectric devices to meet the requirement as sensors.