Synthesis, sintering and characterization of PNZST ceramics from high-energy ball milling process

Pb_0.99Nb_0.02[(Zr_0.60Sn_0.40)_0.94Ti_0.06]_0.98O₃ powders were synthesized from oxide mixtures of Pb₃O₄, Nb₂O_5, ZrO₂, SnO_2, and TiO₂ using a Fritsch P4™ vario-planetary ball milling system. The perovskite structure of PNZST powder can be obtained well after 14 h milling and crystallite size of the powders greatly reduced to 20-30 nm. The resultant powders have better sinterability characteristics to obtain dense ceramic bodies at low temperature. The dielectric constant of samples shows a maximum at 1150 °C and the PE_MC to PE_SC transformation temperature shifts to higher temperature with an increase in grain size. The field-induced strain reaches maximum longitudinal strain of 0.32% and the P-E hysteresis loop shows much higher squareness at 1150 and 1200 °C. The measured dielectric and antiferroelectric properties of the PNZST ceramics were found to be comparable to those from other processing techniques.