Shock wave compression of poled Pb0.99[(Zr0.90Sn0.10)0.96Ti0.04]0.98Nb0.02O3 ceramics: Depoling currents in axial and normal modes

We used a 100-mm diameter gas gun to investigate the output currents due to the sudden depolarization of poled Pb 0.99 -[(Zr 0.90 Sn 0.10 ) 0.96 Ti 0.04 ] 0.98 Nb 0.02 O 3 ceramics under shock wave compression. We conducted shock wave experiments for the normal/ axial mode with the polarization vector perpendicular/antiparallel to the shock vector. The shock pressure was in the range of 0.23 to 4.50 GPa. We measured the depoling currents under short-circuit, high-impedance, and breakdown conditions. Under the short-circuit condition, the dependence of the released charge on the shock pressure demonstrates the evolution of the ferroelectric-to-antiferroelectric phase transition. The onset pressure of the phase transition is between 0.23 and 0.61 GPa, and phase transition occurs completely above 1.22 GPa. The increasing load resistance decreases the released charge and increases the released energy. The results indicate that Pb 0.99 [(Zr 0.90 Sn 0.10 ) 0.96 Ti 0.04 ] 0.98 Nb 0.02 O 3 ceramic is a good candidate for a pulsed power generator.