Effect of Calcination Temperatures on Phase Formation and Microstructure of Lead Titanate Powders Synthesized via Combustion Technique

Lead titanate (PbTiO3; PT) powders were sucessfully prepared by a combustion technique. PT powders were heated at various calcination temperatures, ranging from 500 to 900 oC, for 2 h at a heating/cooling rate of 5 oC/min. Powder samples were characterized using thermogravimetric (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffractrometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The second phases such as PbO, PbO2 and TiO2 were detected in the powders calcined below 800 oC. A single perovskite of the PT powders was found with calcination temperatures above 800 oC. A lattice parameter c and c/a ratio increased while, the lattice parameter a decreased with increasing calcination temperature. The TGA-DTA results corresponded to the XRD investigation. The particle size tended to increase with increasing calcining temperature. Key words: combustion technique, lead titanate, phase formation, microstructure, tetragonality