Diffusion reaction between Pb(Nb,Ni)O3 and Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 in gradient piezo-electric ceramics was investigated as a function of the diffusion temperature and time. Ionic composition distribution profiles in the interdiffusion region were examined by means of electron microprobe analysis. On the basis of a diffusion model for the overlapped diffusion solution from a thin slab, numerical simulations of the ionic composition distribution were carried out. These were in agreement with the electron-probe micro-analysis results. The diffusion coefficients for Ni2+, Nb5+, Ti4+, and Zr4+ were deduced to be equal to 3.38 x 10-11, 2.26 x 10-11, 1.08 x 10-11 and 9.9 x 10-12m2/s, respectively. The associated activation energies were equal to 94.4, 171.7, 257.5 and 325.8kJ/mol, respectively.

X.Zhu, J.Xu, Z.Meng: Journal of Materials Science, 1998, 33[5], 1023-30