Dielectric and Electrostrictive Properties of Ferroelectric Relaxors in the System Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃:PbTiO₃: Ba(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃

Ceramic dielectrics which have been fabricated in the Pb(Mg_1/3 Nb_2/3)O₃:PbTiO₃:Ba(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ composition system are shown to exhibit two distinct dielectric maxima, both of which show the characteristic loss spectra of ferroelectrics with diffuse phase transitions. The height of the individual maxima can be controlled by the Zn:Mg ratio in the starting material and, in suitably chosen compositions, a wide range of almost temperature‐independent high dielectric permittivity is possible. These dielectrics show strong electrostrictive deformations under high electric fields but the electrostrictive strain is much less temperature‐sensitive than in other relaxors.