We report on the heat treatment to stabilize 0.65[Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3]-0.35[PbTiO3] ceramics and its effect on the functional response. The stabilization heat treatment at 1050 degrees C for 4 h was effective in removing un-reacted PbO from the ceramics, which was confirmed through the measurements of dielectric and ferroelectric properties for a series of samples with different PbO contents. We also found that the stage of the stabilization heat treatment affected the sample properties. When this treatment was administrated to the sample during calcination, it exhibited excellent ferroelectric behavior. On the other hand, the same stabilization heat treatment given to the compacted pellet prior to sintering resulted in excellent dielectric properties with comparatively low ferroelectric hysteresis. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.