Effect of the preheating temperature and polarization treatment on the electrical properties of 0–3 PZT/IPN piezoelectric composites

Lead zirconate titanate(PZT)/IPN piezoelectric composites with 0–3 connectivity consisting in PZT ceramic powder with nanoscale and Interpenetrating Polymer Networks(IPN) matrix were prepared through solution mixing method. The composites were polarized at 130 °C for 45 min under the electric field of 6.5 kV. The relationship of the preheating temperature of PZT and the electrical properties were studied and the effects of the polarization treatment of the piezoelectric phase on the electrical properties of 0–3 composites were investigated. The results showed that, with the same preheating temperature, the dielectric constant of PZT increased and the dielectric loss of PZT decreased after the polarization treatment. The dielectric constant and the piezoelectric constant of the composites with the polarized PZT in 0–3 piezoelectric composites both declined, whereas the dielectric loss changed unobvious.