Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 (BNT) based ceramics are considered potential lead-free alternatives for Pb(Zr,Ti)O3(PZT) based ceramics in various applications such as sensors, actuators and transducers. However, BNT-based ceramics have lower electromechanical performance as compared with PZT based ceramics. Therefore, in this work, lead-free bulk 0.99[(Bi0.5Na0.5)0.935Ba0.065](1-x)LaxTiO3-0.01SrZO3 (BNBTLax-SZ, with x = 0, 0.01, 0.02) ceramics were synthesized by a conventional solid state reaction The crystal structure, dielectric response, degree of diffuseness and electric-field-induced strain properties were investigated as a function of different La concentrations. All samples were crystallized into a single phase perovskite structure. The temperature dependent dielectric response of La-modified BNBT-SZ ceramics showed lower dielectric response and improved field-induced strain response. The field induced strain increased from 0.17% for pure BNBT-SZ to 0.38 % for 1 mol.% La-modified BNBT-SZ ceramics at an applied electric field of 6 kV/mm. These results show that Lamodified BNBT-SZ ceramic system is expected to be a new candidate material for lead-free electronic devices.

For use in ultrasonic actuators, we investigated the structural and piezoelectric properties of (1 - x)Pb(Zr0.515Ti0.485)O3 - xPb(Sb1/2Nb1/2)O3 + 0.5 wt% MnO2 [(1 - x)PZT - xPSN + MnO2] ceramics with a variation of x (x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08). All the ceramics, which were sintered at 1250˚C for 2 h, showed a typical perovskite structure, implying that they were well synthesized. A homogeneous micro structure was also developed for the specimens, and their average grain size was slightly decreased to 1.3μm by increasing x to 0.8. Moreover, a second phase with a pyrochlore structure appeared when x was above 0.06, which resulted in the deterioration of their piezoelectric properties. However, the 0.96PZT-0.04PSN+MnO2 ceramics, which corresponds with a morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) composition in the (1 - x)PZT - xPSN + MnO2 system, exhibited good piezoelectric properties: a piezoelectric constant (d33) of 325 pC/N, an electromechanical coupling factor (kp) of 70.8%, and a mechanical quality factor (Qm) of 1779. The specimens with a relatively high curie temperature (Tc) of 305˚C also showed a significantly high dielectric constant (εr) value of 1109. Therefore, the 0.96PZT - 0.04PSN + MnO2 ceramics are suitable for use in ultrasonic vibrators.

Fabrication and Properties of Nano-structured Ceramics

다공성 알루미나 소결체내부로 3Y-TZP 및 12Ce-TZP 전구체를 각각 액상침투시킴으로써 2종류의 Al2O3/TZP복합체를 제조하였다. 소량의 (~11.0 wt%) TZP의 첨가는 Al2O3소결체 (1600˚C, 2시간)의 강도 (19~59%)와 파괴인성(14~157%)을 증가시켰다. 3Y-TZP의 첨가는 복합체의 강도의 향상에 12Ce-TZP의 첨가는 인성의 향상에 보다 효과적이었다. 침투도니 TZP는 복합체의 내부보다 표면에 집중되었으며, 그 결과 이곳에서의 입성장에 빨랐고 Al2O3의입성장 억제효과도 상대적으로 뛰어났다. 입계 및 입내균열전파가 일어났으나 Al2O3/12Ce-TZP의 경우가 Al2O3/3Y-TZP에 비하여 입계파괴가 우세하였다

세라믹재료의 동탄성계수 측정을 위한 공진주파수 측정장치를 구성하였다. 구조용 세라믹 재료로 이용되는 Al2O3, SiC, Si3N4의 온도를 1200˚C까지 50˚C의 온도간격으로 올리면서 torsional resonant frequency와 flexural resonant frequency를 측정하고, 측정된 공진주파수로부터 각 재료의 탄성계수를 구하였다. SiC의 경우는 1200˚C의 온도까지 탄성계수가 선형적으로 감소하였으나, Al2O3와 Si3N4의 경우에는 각각 1000˚C와 800˚C까지는 선형적으로 감소하나, 그 이상의 온도에서는 탄성게수의 감소폭이 증가하는 현상을 보였다. 이러한 현상은 다결정재료에서의 grain boundary sliding에 의한 것으로 알려져 있다. 상온에서 공진법으로 측정된 동탄성계수의 측정결과는 초음파법으로 측정한 결과와 비교하였는데, 4% 내에서 서로 일치하는 결과를 보였다.