| abstract |
A piezoelectric ceramic composition comprising components which form a composition corresponding to a mixed crystal consisting of a first compound having a rhombohedral perovskite structure, a second compound having a tetragonal perovskite structure and a third compound comprising Bi, Mn, a tetravalent metallic element or a pentavalent metallic element and oxygen, characterized in that the second compound is potassium bismuth titanate and wherein the composition is represented by the general formula [(Na x K y ) 0.5 Bi (0.5x + 0.5y + z) ] [Ti (x + y) (Mn s Me (1-s) ) z ] O 3 where Me denotes at least one element selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, Sn, Nb, Ta and Sb, and s represents 1/2 when Me = Ti, Zr, Hf or Sn, and s 2 / 3 is Me = Nb, Ta or Sb, where x is the mole fraction of the first compound, y is the mole fraction of the second compound, and z is the mole fraction of the third compound, and the expressions 0.76 ≤ x ≤ 0.91, 0.08 ... |