The Effect of Sintering Temperatures on the Microstructure and the Mechanical Properties of Lead Zirconate Ceramics

Abstract

The effect of sintering temperatures on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of
lead zirconate ceramics (PbZrO3: PZ) were prepared by a mixed oxide method. The optimum
temperature for calcinations the formation phase of pure perovskite was found to be about 775 oC
for 3 h with heating rate of 5 oC/min. Phase formation was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD).
The sintering procedures were carried out at 1100, 1150, 1200, 1250 and 1300 oC with heating 5 oC/min. Hardness and fracture toughness of the PZ were measured using Vickers and Knoop
microhardness testers. The effect of sintering temperature on microstructure and mechanical
properties were investigated. The results showed that average grain sizes were increased with
increasing sintering temperatures but the hardness decreased with increasing sintering temperatures.

Keywords: Lead zirconate, Microstructure, Vickers hardness, Knoop hardness, Fracture toughness