SrBi2Ta2O9 (SBT) ceramic materials were prepared by the conventional mixed-oxide method. Ceramics sintered at different temperatures had distinctly different microstructures. Anisometric plate-like crystalline grains were observed which revealed the layered structure of the material. The variations of the saturation polarization (P-s), remanent polarization (P-r) and coercive field (E-c) with applied field and temperature were studied by hysteresis (P-E) loop measurements. Samples were also DC poled at various temperatures and electric fields, and their permittivity, piezoelectric (d(3)3) and pyroelectric coefficient (p) were measured.