Preparation and ferroelectric behaviour of PZT-fibres

Lead zirconate titanate fibres of the copmosition Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3 have been developed via the sol-gel route using a melt-spinning process. The spun PZT gel-fibres were treated thermally by a combination of a thermolysis in nitrogen atmosphere an subsequent pyrolysis in air up to 600 deg C. Sintering at 950 deg C densified the fibers to a density higher than 95%. Crack-free polycrystalline fibers with diameters ranging from 5 to 50 mu m could be produced using this route. Measurements by atomic force microscopy characterize the polarization of grains at the surface. These mearurements show anb increased homogeneity of polarization due to sintering in saturated PbO-atmosphere. Sintered fibers were soated with an aqueous solution of polyvinylalcohol leading to improved handling. Maximum tensile strengths of 100 MPa were found for sintered PZT-fibres.