Microstructure evolution of the templated grain growth in textured Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)_0.67Ti_0.33O ₃ by excess PbO addition

Effect of excess lead oxide and sintering temperature on the microstructure evolution in the templated grain growth of the Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.67Ti0.33O3 (PMNT) ceramics were investigated. By adding excess PbO in the precursor of PMNT, the textured structure of PMNT polycrystals was obtained near SrTiO3 template by the conventional ceramic technique. The texture profiles developed progressively with increasing the concentration of excess PbO. A suitable sintering temperature is also very essential to grow a thicker textured layer and avoid a secondary pyrochlore phase.