Texture Measurements in ⟨001⟩ Fiber-Oriented PMN-PT

Textured (1-x)(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-xPbTiO(3) (PMN-PT) ceramics obtained by the templated grain growth process possess a significant fraction of the piezoelectric properties of Bridgman-grown single crystals at a fraction of the cost. However, for integration of these materials into transducer and actuator designs, a more comprehensive characterization of texture quality than possible with Lotgering analysis is needed. In this study, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron backscatter diffraction techniques were used to characterize the fiber texture in < 001 >-oriented PMN-28PT. The March-Dollase equation was fitted to the intensity data to describe the texture in terms of the texture fraction, f, and the degree of texture of the oriented fraction using the March parameter, r. Although each of the techniques used was quantitatively in agreement, XRD rocking curve collection and analysis was the most time-efficient technique for making a comprehensive measurement of texture (f=0.69, r=0.29, FWHM=13.9 degrees) for fiber-oriented PMN-28PT.