Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/S01092/01
Title:	Microstructural Improvements to Electrostrictive Actuator Materials
Principal Investigator:	Bell, Professor AJ
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Institute of Materials Research
Organisation:	University of Leeds
Scheme:	First Grant Scheme Pre-FEC
Starts:	01 July 2002	Ends:	30 June 2004	Value (£):	121,029
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
This proposal aims to further develop and characterise a range of high density, high strength electrostrictive actuator materials. This will be achied via controlled atmosphere sintering of high-energy bead milled (HEBM) oxide powders. In so doing it is a primary aim to understand the role of different sintering atmospheres (both oxidising and non-oxidising) on the microstructure and dielectric properties of PLMNT (Lead lanthanum magnesium titanium niobate) actuator materials. In addition, the project aims to further understand the role of sintering redox condition in controlling the levels of point defects and ordering in these materials. Materials will therefore be sintered in air, oxygen, nitrogen, argon and Pb-rich atmospheres. Sintering times, temperatures and atmosphere wilt be controlled via a PC allowing the controlled introduction of atmosphere gases during the sintering cycle. Xray diffraction, electrical impedance analysis and resistivity measurements will be used to assess the resultant alterations to chemical ordering and intrinsic polarisation.In order to emphasise the practical importance of the compromise between achieving full denslfication and possible degradation to the electromechanical performance (via chemical alterations to the material), a figure of merit based matrix optimisation will be conducted using key electrical, mechanical and electromechanical parameters to identify the most promising candidate materials and processing regimes.
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Organisation Website:	http://www.leeds.ac.uk