Spray-drying derived lead magnesium niobate perovskite ceramics

Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PMN) materials obtained either by spray drying the solution of the precursors or through the conventional columbite method were produced and the powders characteristics and densification behaviour were compared. A nitric acid solution of ammonium-peroxo-niobium complex and magnesium nitrates was added to a nitric acid solution of lead nitrate and spray dried, carrying out a powder with the typical rounded morphology. The precursor powder was calcined at 800°C converting into an almost pure perovskite phase. The sintered ?spray dried? PMN reached about 95% of the theoretical density, showing a close porosity and grain sizes of about 10 microns.