The dielectric and piezoelectric responses to a constant electric field have been measured on initially unpoled PZT-5H and PLZT 8/65/35. In particular, we are interested in the time dependent remanent strain and polarization due to unipolar electric field because they are associated with the domain switching behaviour. An experimental method has been developed to obtain the remanent strains and polarization by accounting for dielectric and piezoelectric effects. A linear dependence of dielectric and piezoelectric modulus on remanent polarization was found in PZT-5H, but not in PLZT 8/65/35. In PLZT 8/65/35, a transition was observed at a value of remanent polarization of 0.07 Cm^-2 gradually evolving polarization to rapid switching. A change in the dominant mechanism of switching was also observed.

Date Published: 6 April 2006
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 6170, Smart Structures and Materials 2006: Active Materials: Behavior and Mechanics, 61700B (6 April 2006); doi: 10.1117/12.657405

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 6170:
Smart Structures and Materials 2006: Active Materials: Behavior and Mechanics
William D. Armstrong, Editor(s)