Elastic stiffness constants of PZN-4.5%PT single crystal influenced by DC bias electric field applied at various directions to prototypic crystal symmetry

The purpose of this work was to characterize an influence of the electric bias field on the elastic stiffness constants of important and unusual piezoelectric material Lead Zinc Niobate-Lead Titanate (PZN-PT). The longitudinal and transverse mode of sound propagation in single crystals containing 4.5% PT were studied. The influence of electric field, which poles the sample, is investigated by the pulse-echo sound propagation technique. From these measurements, the values of complex elastic stiffness constants are evaluated at different poling conditions with different frequencies for longitudinal and sheer excitations. Crystal cuts [001], [110] and [111] served for measurements of the elastic stiffness constants under application of the electric field. Aspects of field-induced phase transitions in PZN-4.5%PT single crystals at room temperature are discussed. Hysteretic behavior has an influence on attenuation and velocity of ultrasound.