Lead zirconate titanate, Pb(Zr04Ti03)O3 to Pb(Zr0.9Ti0.1)O3, is also known as PZT ceramics. It is used mainly in the manufacture of piezoelectric ceramic elements.
The wide range of possible compositions provides a wide range of dielectric constant values, piezoelectric activity, and primary transition temperatures. These are normally greater than is possible with barium titanate. Small additions of niobium, strontium, barium, and antimony serve as modifiers.
Two techniques for producing PZT powders are used today. Calcining (CMO) is the more common method of powder production, and the calcine is then formed and fired in its final shape.
PZT is the most widely used polycrystalline piezoelectric material. Its electrical output can measure pressure. It is used in hydrophones, which permit listening to sound transmitted through water.
One variation of the PZT ceramics is PLZT ceramics (lead-lanthanum zirconate titanate). They are a range of ferroelectric, optically active, transparent ceramics based on the PbZrO2TiO2 system. When hot pressed, the material can reach 99.8% theoretical density. For device applications of PLZT ceramics, the ratio that is important is x:65:35, where x is lanthanum (8 to 10%) and 65:35 is the PbZrO3:PbTiO3 ratio. They have basically the same characteristics as PZT ceramics and are frequently finding use as filters, oscillators, and vibrators in many areas. They are also used for optical shutters.
