90-DEGREES- DOMAIN REVERSAL IN PB(ZRXTI1-X)O-3 CERAMICS

In this study, a simple and direct method has been proposed, which can to be used for quantitatively distinguishing the mechanisms of domain reorientation processes in polycrystalline materials. By using this method, the 90 degrees - domain reorientation in the Pb(ZrxTi1-x)O3 ceramic under the electric field was examined through the X-ray diffraction analysis. It was found that the polarization switching in the PZT ceramic with the composition near the morphotropic phase boundary is predominantly controlled by the two successive 90 degrees domain processes rather than only the 180 degrees domain reversal process. Experimental results also indicate that the coercive field of ferroelectric ceramics is related to the cooperative deformation associated with each grain. This cooperative deformation arises from 90 degrees- domain reversal process.