Publications

Niobium doped lead-tin-zirconate-titanate ceramics near the PZT 95/5 orthorhombic AFE – rhombohedral FE morphotropic phase boundary Pb_1-0.5y(Zr_0.865-xTi_xSn_0.135)_1-yNb_yO₃ were prepared according to a 2²⁺¹ factorial design with x = 0.05, 0.07 and y = 0.0155, 0.0195. The ceramics were prepared by a traditional solid-state synthesis route and sintered to near full density at 1250°C for 6 hours. All compositions were ~98% dense with no detectable secondary phases by XRD. The ceramics exhibited equiaxed grains with intergranular porosity and grain size was ~5 μm, decreasing with niobium substitution. Compositions exhibited remnant polarization values of ~32 μC/cm², increasing with Ti substitution. Depolarization by the hydrostatic pressure induced FE-AFE phase transition was drastically affected by variation of the Ti and Nb substitution, increasing at a rate of 113 MPa / 1% Ti and 21 MPa / 1% Nb. Total depolarization output was insensitive to the change in Ti and Nb substitution, ~32.8 μC/cm² for the PSZT ceramics. The R3c-R3m and R3m-Pm3m phase transition temperatures on heating ranged from 90 to 105°C and 183 to 191°C, respectively. Ti substitution stabilized the R3c and R3m phases to higher temperatures, while Nb substitution stabilized the Pm3m phase to lower temperatures. Thermal hysteresis of the phase transitions was also observed in the ceramics, with transition temperature on cooling being as much as 10°C lower.

This SAND Report documents the development of organic binder system for PZT 95/5 consisting of Kollidon 90F, PEG300, and glycerin. Binders are a critical component in the manufacture of ceramic components. Low performing binders can result in poor yield and lower performance of ceramic components. This study sought to develop a well performing binder system for PZT 95/5 ceramics to support Ferroelectric Neutron Generator manufacturing. The study explored the glass transition temperature, powder compaction properties, green strengths, and thermal decomposition over a wide composition range. An optimal composition was found consisting of 1.3 wt.% Kollidon 90F, 0.5 wt.% PEG300, and 0.2 wt.% glycerin, and incorporating humidity conditioning . The results showed that the optimized binder exhibited improved compaction performance and enhanced green strength compared to a baseline binder and at lower loading. Further, sintered PZT 95/5 parts prepared using the optimized binder exhibited ~5% improved polarization performance without alteration to the microstructure.

The binders, plasticizers, and dispersants in a polyvinylpyrrolidone/polyethylene glycol/glycerin binder system for PZT were evaluated. Kollidon VA 64 was investigated as a possible alternative binder to Kollidon 25 in a PZT powder system. The target amount of PEG300 in a Kollidon VA 64 system was predicted to be 15 to 30 wt.% PEG300 based on T_ganalysis by DSC. The compaction properties (slide coefficient, cohesiveness, green strength, etc.) were analyzed for Kollidon VA 64 – x PEG300 – glycerin systems. The properties in the range of x = 0 to 20 for systems without glycerin and x = 5 to 20 for systems with glycerin all exceeded the performance of the baseline Kollidon 25 system, of which VA 64 – 10 wt.% PEG300 – 5 wt.% glycerin with adsorbed moisture was the most promising composition due to a compact cohesiveness of 0.84 at 40 kpsi compared to a baseline of 0.44. The effect of dispersants on the compaction properties of a Kollidon 25 – PEG300 binder system was also analyzed, and the compaction properties were also compared to that of a Aquazol 200 – PEG6000 binder system. The powders with dispersant exhibited comparabl e per formance to the baseline, suggesting good compatibility. The compacts produce with the Aquazol 200 – PEG6000 binder exhibited decreased performance when compared to the baseline .

Niobium (Nb)-doped lead-tin-zirconate-titanate (PSZT) ceramics near the lead-zirconate-titanate 95/5 orthorhombic AFE-rhombohedral FE morphotropic phase boundary (PSZT 13.5/81/5.5 -1.6Nb) were prepared with up to 10 mol.% of hafnium (Hf) substituted for zirconium. The ceramics were prepared by a traditional solid-state synthesis route and sintered to near full density at 1150°C for 6 h in sealed alumina crucibles with self-same material as the lead vapor source. All compositions were ~98% dense with no detectable secondary phases by X-ray diffraction. The grain size was ~3 μm for all compositions, consisting of equiaxed grains with intergranular porosity. The compositions exhibited remnant polarization values of ~32 μC/cm². Depolarization by the hydrostatic pressure-induced FE-AFE phase transition occurred at 310 MPa for all compositions, resulting in a total depolarization output of 32.4 μC/cm² for the PSZT ceramics. Evaluation of the R3c-R3m and R3m-Pm $\bar{3}$ m phase transition temperatures by impedance spectroscopy showed temperatures on heating ranging from 86 to 92°C and 186 to 182°C, respectively, for increasing nominal Hf content. Thermal hysteresis of the phase transitions was also observed in the ceramics, with the transition temperature on cooling being 1–4°C lower. The study demonstrated that the PSZT ceramics are relatively insensitive to variations in Hf content in the range of 0 to 10 mol.%.

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Abstract not provided.