Crystallization and sintering behavior of PZT prepared from metal alkoxides

Powder precipitates and monolithic gels of lead zirconate-titanate (PZT) were prepared by hydrolysis of metal alkoxides in 1-propanol and acetylacetone/1-propanol solutions, respectively. The as-dried precipitates and gels were amorphous. Deposition of pyrochlore and perovskite at a relatively low temperature, 450°C, was observed for both the precipitate and gel. However, crystalline PbO was found in the gels heated at 300°C. The results showed that the homogeneity of the powder precipitate was better than that of the gel. After heating at 600°C, the diffraction peaks of only perovskite were found for both samples. Powder-compacts and gel compacts were sintered at temperatures higher than 900°C. The shrinkage of the gel-compacts after sintering was greater than that of the powder-compacts because of its small particle size.