Abstract
Dense Mn-added 0.3BaTiO3–0.1Bi(Mg1/2Ti1/2)O3–0.6BiFeO3 (0.3BT–0.1BMT–0.6BF) ceramics were fabricated by spark plasma sintering of 0.3BT–0.1BMT–0.6BF powders with different powder sizes of 0.3, 1.0, and 1.4 µm. It was found that use of larger powders suppressed Bi volatilization during the sintering, which was judged by maintained perovskite A site/B site component (A/B) ratios of 1.000 and 0.997 for the 1.0 and 1.4 µm samples and a decreased A/B ratio from 1.000 to 0.998 for the 0.3 µm sample. Grain sizes of the ceramics prepared from the 0.3, 1.0, and 1.4 µm powders were 0.7, 1.2, and 1.9 µm, respectively. These results contributed to increased remanent polarizations of 6.7, 28.3, and 36.6 µC/cm2 and maximum electric-field-induced strains/applied electric fields (Smax/Emax) of 251, 332, and 362 pm/V for the 0.3, 1.0, and 1.4 µm samples, respectively. Comparison with conventionally sintered ceramics was also made.
