Electrical properties of Lead Titanate Zirconate ceramics doped with niobium

Ceramics with composition of Pb(1-x/2)(Zr0.52Ti0.48)(1-x)NbxO3 with x = 0.01 - 0.025, were prepared by conventional mixed oxide route were investigated. A microstructure with mean grains sizes of 1- 3 mu m were found and the apparent density of 7.1-7.6 g/cm(3). The dielectric and piezoelectric properties were determined on ceramic discs with a diameter of 10 - 18 mm and 1 mm thick. Dielectric constant and losses have been measured in the range of frequencies at 40 Hz - 400 kHz using impedance analyzer. The piezoelectric constant k(p) were calculate using the resonance and antiresonance values. It showed that the Nb additives were helpful in improving both of the dielectric and piezoelectric properties.