Water-based technique to produce porous PZT materials

Water based colloidal processing of PZT materials was investigated in order to reduce costs and employ more environmental friendly manufacturing. The technique addressed was the production of porous thick samples by the so called “starch consolidation”. PZT “soft” compositions were used. The “starch consolidation” process allows to obtain the green body by raising the temperature of a suspension of PZT powder, soluble starch and water, cast into a metal mould. The influence of the processing parameters and composition on the morphology, pore volumes, pore size distributions and piezoelectric properties are investigated. Zeta potential determination and titration with different deflocculants were essential tools to adjust the slurry formulation.