Elastic Properties of Lead Zirconate

Elastic properties of PbZrO 3 and its solid solutions with PbTiO 3 , BaZrO 3 and SrZrO 3 were studied by measuring resonant frequencies of bars by the composite-bar method. In the antiferroelectric range, they show elastic behaviors similar to barium titanate; and to explain these anomalies, interactions between strains and anti-parallel oriented dipoles –micro-piezoelectric effects–were introduced in a phenomenological theory. It was also pointed out that the elastic compliance coefficient for constant polarization ( s P ) of BaTiO 3 changes discontinuously at the Curie point and that the Devonshire's theory is insufficient. In addition, it was revealed from elastic and dielectric measurements that (Pb 0.85 –Sr 0.15 )ZrO 3 has another new phase, the nature of which, however, could not be determined.