Development of silver-metal oxide reactive air braze alloys for electroding PZT ceramics

Authors: Pavlina, E.; Meier, A.; Monteleone, P.; Weigner, J.

Source: Journal of Materials Science, Volume 42, Number 2, January 2007 , pp. 705-713(9)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Existing multi-layer devices using lead-based piezoelectric ceramics utilize an internal electrode that does not bond the ceramic layers. Improvements in device performance and processing could be gained if the electrode also acted as a bond between the ceramic layers. In the current work, the feasibility of brazing lead zirconate titanate (PZT) in ambient conditions utilizing silver-based alloys containing low melting temperature metal oxides was investigated. Wettability, joint fracture strength, and microstructural analyses were conducted for various PZT/silver-metal oxide systems. The metal oxide additions included copper (II) oxide, vanadium pentoxide, lead (II) oxide, and eutectic lead oxide-titanium (IV) oxide. The silver-copper oxide (Ag-CuO) system demonstrated the most potential; exhibiting an apparent contact angle of approximately 64° and an average braze joint fracture strength that was approximately 62% of the monolithic PZT strength. In addition, no significant reaction product formation was observed at the silver/PZT interface. However, a preliminary investigation of multi-layer devices electroded with Ag-CuO alloys indicated a decrease in the resistivity of the brazed PZT by several orders of magnitude.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-1381-0

Affiliations: 1: Email: epavlina@mines.edu

Publication date: 2007-01-01