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

Si3N4에 2wt% Al2O3와 6wt% Y2O3을 첨가한 분말을 가스압 소결 방법으로 시편을 제조하였다. 이때 소결시 시간변화에 따른 공기 중에서 마모 특성을 비교하였다. 소결 시간에 따른 마모 특성의 변화는 기계적 성질, 즉, 파괴인성 등이 영향을 주는 것으로 나타났다. 소결 시간이 길어지면 큰 elongated 입자의 과잉성장에 따라 곡강도 및 파괴인성이 낮아져 이 결과 마모가 증가되었다. 이때 나타난 결과에 의하면 공기 중에서 질화규소의 마모특성에 영향을 주는 인자는 여러 가지 기계적 특성 중에서 파괴인성 및 곡강도가 미치는 영향이 크게 나타났다.

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.