Electrostriction and phase transition in MASD

Abstract The electromechanical properties of MASD were studied in the temperature range between 175 K and room temperature. As no piezoelectricity could be revealed the point group 23 for the parent phase can be excluded. Therefore a transition from m3 to mm2 is most likely. The temperature dependence of electrostrictive coefficients is typical for pseudoproper ferroelectrics. Finally the spontaneous deformation at the phase transition is discussed.