Cyclic Mechanical Fatigue Lifetime of Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-Based Eco-Piezoceramics.

The mechanical strength and cyclic fatigue behavior of PIC700 commercial eco-piezoceramic disks are investigated under biaxial loading on unpoled and poled samples. The bending strength of unpoled samples was higher than those of poled ones. Fatigue tests were conducted under a load ratio of 10 at a frequency of 20 Hz with a sinusoidal waveform. The curve fitting for the S-N fatigue diagram is used to predict the lifetime of these eco-piezoceramics and describe their fatigue behavior. It was also found that the unpoled samples exhibited higher fatigue resistance than the poled ones. The fatigue limit of maximum load for ten million cycles of unpoled and poled samples was estimated to be 160 and 135 MPa, respectively. The detailed observations of the fatigue fracture surfaces by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that a wavy surface with a mixture of transgranular and intergranular fractures occurred preferentially in the case of the poled material. On the other hand, transgranular fractures seem to be predominant in the unpoled samples. It appears that the poling process causes the change in failure characteristics due to domain orientation that leaves an anisotropic stress field in the material. The poled ceramics possess a local stress concentration created by the orientation under the electric poling field of the 90° ferroelectric-ferroelastic domains. Under this local stress concentration, a microstructural degeneration is induced by domain switching under the cyclic load that accelerates crack growth, thereby reducing fatigue lifetime.

Long- and Short-Range Structure of Ferrimagnetic Iron-Chromium Maghemites.

Maghemite-like materials containing Fe(3+) and Cr(3+) in comparable amounts have been prepared by solution-combustion synthesis. The conditions of synthesis and the magnetic properties are described. These materials are ferrimagnetic and are much more stable than pure iron maghemite since their maghemite-hematite transformation takes place at about ∼ 700 °C instead of ∼ 300 °C, as usually reported. These materials were studied by synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction (XRD) and by X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) of the K-absorption edge of two elements. High-resolution XRD patterns were processed by means of the Rietveld method. Thus, maghemites were studied by XAFS in both Fe and Cr K-edges to clarify the short-range structure of the investigated systems. Pre-edge decomposition and theoretical modeling of X-ray absorption near edge structure transitions were performed. The extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra were fitted considering the facts that the central atom of Fe is able to occupy octahedral and tetrahedral sites, each with a weight adjustment, while Cr occupies only octahedral sites. Interatomic distances were determined for x = 1, by fitting simultaneously both Fe and Cr K-edges average EXAFS spectra. The results showed that the cation vacancies tend to follow a regular pattern within the structure of the iron-chromium maghemite (FeCrO3).

Ferroelectrics under the Synchrotron Light: A Review.

Currently, an intensive search for high-performance lead-free ferroelectric materials is taking place. ABO3 perovskites (A = Ba, Bi, Ca, K and Na; B = Fe, Nb, Ti, and Zr) appear as promising candidates. Understanding the structure-function relationship is mandatory, and, in this field, the roles of long- and short-range crystal orders and interactions are decisive. In this review, recent advances in the global and local characterization of ferroelectric materials by synchrotron light diffraction, scattering and absorption are analyzed. Single- and poly-crystal synchrotron diffraction studies allow high-resolution investigations regarding the long-range average position of ions and subtle global symmetry break-downs. Ferroelectric materials, under the action of electric fields, undergo crystal symmetry, crystallite/domain orientation distribution and strain condition transformations. Methodological aspects of monitoring these processes are discussed. Two-dimensional diffraction clarify larger scale ordering: polycrystal texture is measured from the intensities distribution along the Debye rings. Local order is investigated by diffuse scattering (DS) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) experiments. DS provides information about thermal, chemical and displacive low-dimensional disorders. XAFS investigation of ferroelectrics reveals local B-cation off-centering and oxidation state. This technique has the advantage of being element-selective. Representative reports of the mentioned studies are described.

Predicting the Coupling Properties of Axially-Textured Materials.

A description of methods and computer programs for the prediction of "coupling properties" in axially-textured polycrystals is presented. Starting data are the single-crystal properties, texture and stereography. The validity and proper protocols for applying the Voigt, Reuss and Hill approximations to estimate coupling properties effective values is analyzed. Working algorithms for predicting mentioned averages are given. Bunge's symmetrized spherical harmonics expansion of orientation distribution functions, inverse pole figures and (single and polycrystals) physical properties is applied in all stages of the proposed methodology. The established mathematical route has been systematized in a working computer program. The discussion of piezoelectricity in a representative textured ferro-piezoelectric ceramic illustrates the application of the proposed methodology. Polycrystal coupling properties, predicted by the suggested route, are fairly close to experimentally measured ones.