| abstract |
The production of ceramic fibres based on PMN or PMNT (lead-magnesium-niobate or lead-magnesium niobate-lead titanate), comprising (a) making an organic sol containing Pb, Mg, Nb and optionally Ti ions, which is at least partly condensed by hydrolysis, (b) removing solvent to give a solid, (c) melting the solid, (d) producing filaments from the resulting viscous liquid by drawing or by extrusion through a spinning nozzle, and (e) optionally drying and then heating to remove organic components. Also claimed is a process for the production of fibres with electrostrictive properties based on PMN or PMNT, comprising stages (a)-(e) as above followed by pyrolysis at the max. temperature enabling formation of the perovskite phase. Also claimed are ceramic fibres as above, the electrostrictive type preferably comprising 90-99% perovskite phase. |