Low-temperature sintering of PZT with LiBiO 2 as a sintering aid

Low-temperature sintering of PZT was studied with the use of LiBiO2 (LBiO) as a sintering aid. PZT powders with LBiO additive were densified at 750°C for 2h to sintered bodies with relative density of 95%. Addition of the sintering aid was effective for improving the sinterability of PZT powders and piezoelectric/ferroelectric properties of PZT ceramics. PZT ceramics with 1 mass% of LBiO additive fabricated at 750°C exhibited an electromechanical coupling factor, kp, of about 65%.