Rapid Thermal Processing of Pb(Mg0.7Zn0.3)1/3Nb2/3O3 Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors

Fast firing, with total sintering times of between 3 and 15 min, was utilized to process multilayer ceramic capacitors of dielectric composition Pb(Mg0.7Zn0.3)1/3Nb2/3O3. This dielectric composition has been studied extensively because of its diffuse phase transition, which is intrinsic to relaxors, and also its high dielectric constant. The fast‐firing procedure, which did not utilize any prevention for PbO volatilization, has been shown to be a feasible method for the processing of these components. Sintering times in the range of 12 to 15 min at 1100°C resulted in components with weak field dielectric constants in excess of 12 000 and grain sizes in the range of 1 μm or less. The development of a pyrochlore phase at the component surfaces was less influential on the dielectric performance of the components because of the internal nature of the electrodes.