Effect of Uniaxial Compressive Stress on the Partially Fatigued Soft Lead Zirconate Titanate Piezoelectric Ceramics

Abstract

Uniaxial compressive stress was applied during fatigue process of soft lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric ceramics and their fatigue resistance was improved when the stress was larger than 20MPa. Before fatigue, compressive stress had a strong depolarization effect and restricted domains switching behavior under large electric field and domain walls motion under small electric field. However, in a partially fatigued state, while domains switching behavior was still restricted by compressive stress, domain walls motion was enhanced. Removal of the applied stress after partial fatigue induced the remnant polarization restored significantly.