Effects of compressive stress on the ferroelectric properties of ceramics M PZT-PZN system were investigated. The ceramics with a formula (1-x)Pb(Zr1/2Ti1/2)O-3-xPb(Zn1/3Nb1/3)O-3 or (1-x)PZT-(x)PZN (x = 0.1-0.5) were prepared by a conventional mixed-oxide method. The ferroelectric properties under the compressive stress of the PZT-PZN ceramics were observed at the stress levels tip to 170 MPa Using a compressometer in conjunction with a modified Sawyer-Tower circuit. It Was found that with increasing compressive stress the area of the ferroelectric hysteresis (P-E) loops, the saturation polarization (P-sat) the remnant polarization (P-r), and the coercive field (E-c) decreased. These results were interpreted through the non-180 degrees Ferroelastic domain switching processes. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.