Papers by Author: Wanwilai C. Vittayakorn

Abstract: The 0.98BaTiO₃-0.02Ba (Mg_1/3Nb_2/3) O₃ ceramics has been synthesized through a conventional mixed-oxide by using BT nanopowder and BMN micropowder. The phase purity of the powders and the ceramics was examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The 0.98BT-0.02BMN powders were sintered to 92% of the theoretical density at a temperature of 1300 °C for 2 h. The microstructure of the sintered surface was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dielectric constant (ε_r) and loss factor (tanδ) of the sintered pellets at Curie temperture were 3000 and 0.015, respectively.

Abstract: Ceramic solid solutions within the system (1-x)PZT-xBT, where x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5, were prepared by conventional mixed-oxide method combined with a two-stage sintering procedure. A sintering time of 2 h at 1000 °C followed by a second step in the temperature range of 1000-1200 °C for 2 h was employed to all samples and compared to the one-step sintering process. Phase formation, densification and microstructure of all ceramics were examined via X-ray diffraction (XRD), Archimedes method and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results lead to the conclusion that the pure perovskite phase and high densification of (1-x)PZT-xBT ceramics with fine grain can be successfully achieved under suitable two-stage sintering conditions.

Abstract: A corundum-type structure of cobalt niobate (Co4Nb2O9) has been synthesized by a solid-state reaction. The formation of the Co4Nb2O9 phase in the calcined powders was investigated as a function of calcination conditions by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Morphology and particle size have been determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the minor phases of unreacted Co3O4 tend to form together with the columbite CoNb2O6 phase at a low calcination temperature and short dwell time. It seems that the single-phase of Co4Nb2O9 in a corundum phase can be obtained successfully at the calcination conditions of 900°C for 60 min, with heating/cooling rates of 20°C /min.

Abstract: The piezoelectric ceramics of Pb(ZrxTi1−x)O3 – Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 – Pb(Mn1/3Nb2/3)O3; PZT-PZN-PMN with Zr/Ti ratios of 48/52, 50/50 and 52/48 were fabricated in order to investigate the effect of compositional modifications on the ferroelectric properties of PZT-PZN-PMN ceramics. The phase structure of ceramics sintered at 1,150°C was analyzed. Results show that the pure perovskite phase was in all ceramic specimens, and the phase structure of PZT-PZN-PMN piezoelectric ceramics transformed from tetragonal to rhombohedral, with the Zr/Ti ratios increased in the system. The PZT-PZN-PMN ceramics with a Zr/Ti ratio of 50/50 exhibited the most promising properties including high remanent polarization and low coercive field of 25.95 µC cm−2 and 12.5 kV cm−1, respectively. Furthermore, the transition temperature decreased when the Zr/Ti ratio increased in the system.

Abstract: The phase transition behavior of the (1–x) PbZrO3-xPb(Co1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PZCN) solid solution system (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.30) has been investigated by X-ray diffraction and DSC. In the solid solution, for x ≤ 0.20, the transition shows a first-order phase transition behavior and its antiferroelectric (AFE) crystal structure is orthorhombic. The transition temperature gradually decreases with increased Co2+/Nb5+ concentration. On the composition range 0.20 ≤ x ≤ 0.30, a typical relaxor-like behavior is displayed. The low temperature crystal structure is pseudo-cubic in this composition range. With these data, the ferroelectric phase diagram between PZ and PCoN has been established.

Abstract: The binary system of (1-x)(K1/2Na1/2)NbO3–xBi(Zn1/2Ti1/2)O3; x = 0.0-0.30 ceramics was fabricated by conventionally mixed oxide and two-stage mixed oxide methods. Phase development of calcined powders and the crystal structure of sintered ceramics were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The microstructure analyses were undertaken by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In the conventional method, the perovskite phases were obtained for compositions containing only 10 mol % KNN. For compositions above this amount, a complex mixture of phases was observed. However, the complete solid solution of perovskite phase, prepared by two−stage mixed oxide, was retained up to 20 mole % BZT content. The experiments in this study suggest that the two-stage mixed oxide method helps to stabilize the perovskite phase better, when compared with the conventional method.

Abstract: he solid solution between the normal ferroelectric Pb(Zr1/2Ti1/2)O3 (PZT) and relaxor ferroelectric Pb(Co1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PCoN) was synthesized by the solid state reaction method. Sintered PZT-PCoN ceramics were annealed at temperatures ranging from 850 to 1,100°C for 4 h. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed changes of crystalline structure after annealing, which could be correlated to the accompanied changes in dielectric properties. Furthermore, significant improvements in the dielectric responses were observed in this system. After annealing, a huge increase of up to 200% occurred in the dielectric constants, especially near the temperature of maximum dielectric constant.