Crystal-oriented ceramics, piezoelectric ceramics using the same, and methods for producing the same

A method for producing a crystal-oriented ceramic comprising the steps of:

• applying a raw material capable of forming an isotropic perovskite-type-structured guest material to a seed crystal of a host material having morphological anisotropy,
• converting the raw material into an isotropic perovskite-type-structured guest material, whereby said isotropic perovskite-type-structured guest material forms on the surface and/or in the inside of the seed crystal of the host material having morphological anisotropy, from the raw material capable of forming the guest material having an isotropic perovskite-type-structure;
• and
• orienting at least a part of a crystal plane or axis of said isotropic perovskite-type-structured guest material in accordance with the orientation of a crystal plane or axis of said host material;
• wherein said crystal-oriented ceramic comprises an isotropic perovskite-type structured oxide having a degree of crystal orientation of not smaller than 10% as measured according to the Lotgering method.

A method for producing a crystal-oriented ceramic comprising the steps of:

• applying a guest material having an isotropic perovskite-type-structure to a seed crystal of a host material;
• and
• orienting at least a part of a crystal plane or axis of the guest material having an isotropic perovskite-type-structure in accordance with the orientation of a crystal plane or axis of seed crystals of the host material having morphological anisotropy;
• wherein said crystal-oriented ceramic comprises an isotropic perovskite-type structured oxide having a degree of crystal orientation of not smaller than 10% as measured according to the Lotgering method.

A method for producing a crystal-oriented ceramic comprising the steps of:

• mixing a host material with a raw material capable of forming a guest material and/or an isotropic perovskite-type structured guest material to give a mixture;
• orienting a crystal plane or axis of the host material in said mixture;
• and
• heating said mixture to form and orient the guest material in accordance with a crystal plane or axis of the host material,
• wherein said crystal-oriented ceramic comprises an isotropic perovskite-type structured oxide having a degree of crystal orientation of not smaller than 10% as measured according to the Lotgering method.

A method for producing a crystal-oriented ceramic comprising the steps of:

• mixing a host material having morphological anisotropy, a raw material capable of producing a guest material having an isotropic perovskite-type structure and/or an isotropic perovskite-type-structured guest material, and an additive having the ability to convert said host material into said guest material or into at least one other guest material having an isotropic perovskite-type structure;
• orienting a crystal plane or axis of said host material to obtain a primary oriented body;
• and
• heating and sintering said primary oriented body to obtain said crystal-oriented ceramic, wherein said crystal-oriented ceramic comprises an isotropic perovskite-type structured oxide having a degree of crystal orientation of not smaller than 10% as measured according to the Lotgering method.

A method for producing a crystal-oriented ceramic comprising the steps of:

• mixing a host material having morphological anisotropy and an additive having the ability to convert said host material into a material having an isotropic perovskite-type structure;
• orienting a crystal plane or axis of said host material to obtain a primary oriented body;
• and
• heating and sintering said primary oriented body to obtain said crystal-oriented ceramic, wherein said crystal-oriented ceramic comprises an isotropic perovskite-type-structured oxide having a degree of crystal orientation of not smaller than 10% as measured according to the Lotgering method, and at least one crystal plane of the host material has lattice conformity, or lattice matching with at least one crystal plane of the isotropic perovskite-type structure.