Anisotropic Piezoelectric Properties of Porous (Ba0.85 Ca0.15)(Zr0.1 Ti0.9)O3 Ceramics with Oriented Pores through TBA-Based Freeze-Casting Method

Abstract

Porous (Ba0.85 Ca0.15)(Zr0.1 Ti0.9)O3 (BCZT) piezoelectric ceramics with an oriented directional hole structure were prepared by using the tertbutyl alcohol (TBA)-based freeze-casting method. The influences of sintering temperatures on the microstructure and piezoelectric properties of porous BCZT ceramics were investigated both perpendicular and parallel to the freezing direction. With the increase in sintering temperatures and the porosities decreased from 58% to 42%, the compressive strength increased from 14.0 MPa to 25.0 MPa. In addition, the d33 value of 407 pC/N for the sample sintered at 1400° C was obtained parallel to the freezing direction, which was 1.40 times that of the other direction.