Lead zirconate

Chemical properties

colorless cub perovskite >230°, pseudotetr or ortho-rhomb <230°C; can be obtained by heating stoichiometric amounts of lead and zirconium oxides; has high piezoelectric properties; used in high power acoustic transducer, hydrophones, and as a 99.7% pure sputtering target for thin film capacitors [STR93] [CER91] [KIR78]

The Uses of Lead zirconate

Lead zirconate (PbZrO3, PZ) is practically applied in the area of electroceramics. It is an end member of the family of a well-known FE oxide solid solution, PbZr1 ? xTixO3 (PZT). Lead zirconate titanate (PbZr1-xTixO3, or PZT) ceramics are extensively used in ferroelectric devices due to their excellent piezoelectric, dielectric, and elastic properties.

Production Methods

Lead zirconate has two colorless crystal structures: a cubic perovskite form above 230 °C (Curie point) and a pseudotetragonal or orthorhombic form below 230 °C. It is insoluble in water and aqueous alkalies, but soluble in strong mineral acids. Lead zirconate is usually prepared by heating together the oxides of lead and zirconium in the proper proportion. It readily forms solid solutions with other compounds with the ABO3 structure, such as barium zirconate or lead titanate. Mixed lead titanate-zirconates have particularly high piezoelectric properties. They are used in high power acoustic-radiating transducers, hydrophones, and specialty instruments.