In this study, two types of PZT (lead zirconate titanate, Pb(Zr,Ti)O
3) ceramics were used. One is low-Q
m PZT, mainly used as signal devices. The other is high-Q
m PZT, which is utilized high power conditions applied in piezoelectric transformers, actuators and ultrasonic motors. The Q
m is a mechanical quality factor (Q
m =
s'/
s”,
s* =
s'-
js”, where
s* is an elastic compliance). In order to obtain a high output power, PZT ceramics must be driven at a high vibration level. This causes heat generation. Recently, the demand of high-Q
m PZT is increased. Because, the high-Q
m PZT is utilized under the condition of continually stretch and shrink, to avoid premature failure, the high-strength piezoelectric ceramics is required. The mechanical properties including fatigue of Pb(Zr,Ti)O
3(PZT) ceramics were investigated in this study.
The bending strength, Young's modulus and Vicker's hardness of high-Q
m PZT were higher than those of low-Q
m ones. It was found that by the fatigue test, as the applied stress of high-Q
m PZT increased, the number of cycles to fracture decreased remarkably, compared with that of low-Q
m ones. The SEM fractographs of fatigued high-Q
m specimens indicated that inter-granular fracture occured preferentially. The difference of these mechanical properties and fatigue behavior between low-Q
m and high-Q
m depended on the inter-granular fatigue crack which proceeded along the grain boundary in high-Q
m material.
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