Abstract
An improved method is described for the sol-gel preparation of PZT ceramics in the perovskite structure. This method uses acetic acid as a solvent. Details are reported for the modified sol-gel processing route and heat-treatment conditions. By using this method it is possible to prepare single perovskite material with improved properties. The deleterious effect of additional phases is attributed to Pb loss from the surface during thermal processing. The density of the PZT pellets is observed to decrease as the sintering time increases. A ninety-seven percent theoretical density is obtained for samples sintered at 950°C for two hours. The dielectric properties of the PZT are measured and compared with unmodified sol-gel.