Influence of Nd2O3/SrO additives on sintering characteristics and microwave dielectric properties of (Zr0.8Sn0.2)TiO4 ceramics

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics 2019-01, Vol.30 (1), p.491-498
• Main Authors: Zhang, Liming, Chang, Yi, Xin, Miao, Ren, Luchao, Luo, Xianfu, Zhou, Hongqing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Additives; Ceramics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Densification; Dielectric properties; Materials Science; Optical and Electronic Materials; Phase composition; Sintering; Sintering (powder metallurgy)
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-018-0314-4

The phase composition, microstructure, densification, microwave dielectric properties and sintering characteristics of (Zr 0.8 Sn 0.2 )TiO 4 specimens doped with various Nd 2 O 3 /SrO additions, synthesized via a conventional solid-stated technology, were comprehensively studied. All samples depicted a single uniform (Zr 0.8 Sn 0.2 )TiO 4 phase with orthorhombic crystalline structure without secondary phase. After adding Nd 2 O 3 /SrO additives, the sintering temperature of ZST ceramics was depressed to 1320 °C, while facilitating dielectric performances, as long as they were added in the appropriate amounts (0.3 wt% Nd 2 O 3  + 0.45 wt% SrO). It has been found that when the ZST powders ground for 16 h sintered at 1320 °C for 4 h with 0.3 wt% Nd 2 O 3 and 0.45 wt% SrO, an excellent microwave dielectric performances were generated for sintered ceramics: ε r  = 40.61, Q × f = 40700 GHz (f = 5.5 GHz) and τ f  = − 2.57 ppm °C −1 .