Effect of Grain Size and Poling on the Fracture Mode of Lead Zirconate Titanate Ceramics

Abstract

The fracture mode of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics at room temperature is investigated as a function of grain size. The fracture mode is almost intergranular at small grain size and changes to predominantly transgranular at large grain size. Application of an electric field (poling) causes a change in the fracture mode from transgranular to intergranular. The observed fracture behavior of PZT ceramics is explained in relation to a possible domain structure.