Effect of Mn on aging of (Pb0.63Ba0.37)(Zr0.7Ti0.3)O-3 dielectric ceramics

An aging model for relaxors is suggested on the basis of the transformation of a supercooled cubic lattice into a tetragonal lattice. Manganese ions distort the crystal lattice, and the distortion affects the phase transformation rate. As a result, the aging rate may be expected to change. The lattice constant of (Pb0.63Ba0.37)(Zr0.7Ti0.3)O-3 + x MnO mol% dielectric ceramics Tvas used as a measure of the degree of the distortion. As the lattice constant decreased up to 0.5 MnO mol%, the aging rate increased, justifying the proposed model.