Measured polarization hysteresis and predicted reference remnant polarization and strains of ferroelectric ceramics at various electric field loading rates and temperatures

A poled lead zirconate titanate (PZT) rectangular parallelepiped specimen was subjected to through-thickness electric fields at five loading rates and four temperatures. The rates of the electric field were 0.01, 0.10, _0.25, _0.50, and 1.00 MVm^?1 s^?1 ; the temperatures were 20, 50, 80, and 110 °C. From the measured polarization hysteresis responses, the so-called reference remnant polarization and strains were calculated. Using the calculated reference remnant polarization hysteresis loops, the effects of loading rates and temperature were discussed; using the calculated reference remnant strains, strain butterfly loops were calculated and compared with observations.