Comparison of nonlinearity between lead magnesium niobate electrostrictive and lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric ceramics

Nonlinear phenomena, such as generation of higher harmonic voltages, change in resonance frequency and current-jumping, were compared between lead zirconate titanate (PZT) piezoelectric and lead magnesium niobate (PMN) electrostrictive ceramics. This comparison was carried out in order to discuss the effect of domain wall motion on the nonlinear behavior that appears during high-power driving at around resonance frequency. A dc bias of 700 V was applied to PMN to produce piezoelectric resonance. Sufficient piezoelectric resonance was consequently obtained for the discussion of the nonlinear behavior. In contrast to PZT with a marked nonlinear behavior, any nonlinear phenomenon did not appear in PMN without any domain walls.