Sintering studies were performed on five PZT powders including one mixed oxide powder, and four EDIA gel-prepared powders. The activation energies of grain growth for these powders were determined. The influences of powder characteristics and impurities are compared and discussed. It was shown that the Fe dopant or acceptor-type impurities such as Mg and Al segregated into the grain boundaries and thus inhibited the grain growth The use of Nb enhanced the grain growth This 15 explained by the increase solubility of the minor acceptor impurities by Nb and the lack of phase segregation at the grain boundary phase thus enhanced the grain growth.