Abstract
The effects of sintering temperature and manganese concentration on microstructure and electromechanical property were studied in [Pb0.9La0.1][Zr0.5Ti0.5]O3 piezoelectric ceramics with the substitution of the B-site by manganese by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electron spin resonance (ESR). Grain growth is enhanced by increasing temperature but suppressed by manganese substitution. There was no relationship between Qm (inverse of mechanical vibration loss) and the grain size. Some part of manganese is considered to be reduced to Mn2+ ions during sintering. Qm is considered to be affected by the reduction of manganese ions because it was proportional to Mn2+ concentration, not to total manganese content.