Preparation and characterization of PLZT (8/65/35) ceramics via reaction sintering from ball milled powders

Lead lanthanum zirconate titanate ceramics (PLZT8/65/35) were successfully prepared via reaction sintering of partially reacted oxide mixtures derived from a high-energy ball milling process. The powders milled for different times were characterized by XRD, SEM and particle size analysis. The sintering behavior of the milled powders was also investigated by a dilatometer. A volumetric expansion observed indicates sintering reaction has occurred before the densification of the powders. Dielectric and ferroelectric measurement results of the sintered PLZT ceramics were comparable with the values reported in the literature for the same composition. The simple high-energy ball milling process has shown to be a comparable technique compared with the conventional solid-state reaction and most of the wet-chemistry-based processes. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.