(Bi4.5+xNa0.5-x)(Ti2xNb2-2x)WO15 (BNTNW) compounds were synthesized and their ferroelectric properties were characterized. The X-ray powder diffraction patterns of the compounds revealed that they have a single phase over the whole composition range. The linear variations of the lattice parameters with composition indicate the formation of solid solutions, resulting in a reduction in the orthorhombicity of the compounds. The remnant polarization of the BNTNW decreased from 8.5 to 5.1 mu C/cm(2) with increasing x, which may be related to the orthorhombicity of the compounds. By using hot forging, an oriented BNTNW compound at x = 0 was obtained. Strong reflections from (0 0 1) were observed for sample // in which the measurement direction is parallel and the orientation factor of such sample was approximately 0.72. A remarkable increase in the remnant polarization (P-r) of the compound was observed for the sample perpendicular to in which the direction of applied pressure is perpendicular to the measurement direction; the highest P-r value was 18 mu/cm(2). (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.