Effect of domain switching and rotation on dielectric and piezoelectric properties in lead zirconate titanate ceramics

Domain switching and rotation in soft lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics were investigated in comparison with those in hard PZT ceramics by measuring the poling field dependence of the dielectric and piezoelectric properties. The minimum dielectric constant (epsilon(r)) and maximum frequency constant (f cp) were observed at the coercive fields, which correspond to the poling fields required to obtain the minimum planar coupling factor. These phenomena were due to the 180 degrees domain clamping at these fields. The fields of 90 degrees (71 degrees or 109 degrees) domain rotation were estimated using the relationships between the maximum epsilon(r) and minimum f cp. While minimum epsilon(r) and maximum f cp due to domain clamping were observed in the composition of and rhombohedral soft PZT ceramics, domain rotations which caused masimum epsilon(r) and minimum f cp were mainly observed in rhombohedral hard PZT ceramics. It was thought that the reason why domain rotations which caused maximum epsilon(r) and minimum f cp were not obtained in soft PZT was the mechanical softness of the ceramics.