ACOUSTIC EMISSION FROM PZT-5A AND PZT-8 CERAMICS DURING THE APPLICATION OF AC FIELD AT DIFFERENT FREQUENCIES

Abstract

Acoustic Emission (AE) and hysteresis parameters were studied from PZT-5A (soft) and PZT-8 (hard) ceramics during the application of ac fields in the frequency range of 0.2 Hz to 5 Hz. AE was found to occur mainly due to domain switching in these ceramics during the application of ac fields. In PZT-5A, a threshold field was observed for the AE activity to begin in both the direction of the applied field and in general, it was found to decrease with increasing frequency. Apart from this, AE activity was found to decrease with increasing number of applied ac cycles, and is attributed to domain pinning. In the case of PZT-8, AE was found to occur even at zero field at higher frequencies and AE activity was found to increase with increasing number of field cycles. These are explained on the basis of the defect dipole — domain interaction in these ceramics.