Microwave dielectric properties of AWO4 (A=Ca, Ba, Sr) ceramics synthesized via high energy ball milling method

•The AWO4 nanopowders with a single phase were synthesized by HEBM for 30min.•The average particle size of the milled powders is reduced to 120–180nm for 30h.•AWO4 ceramics were well sintered at relatively low temperatures of 900–1000°C.•Samples have dense microstructures and excellent microwave dielectric properties. The AWO4 (A=Ca, Sr, Ba) compounds with scheelite structure were synthesized by high energy ball milling for 30min and the average particle size was reduced to about 120nm after milling 30h. AWO4 ceramics were well sintered at relatively low temperatures of 900–1000°C, 200–400°C lower than those required by a conventional solid state reaction technique. The samples of CaWO4, SrWO4, and BaWO4 ceramics have dense microstructures and excellent microwave dielectric properties, ɛr=10.7, 8.6, 8.4; Q×f=62,100GHz, 57,500GHz, 58,800GHz; and τf=−48ppm/°C, −52ppm/°C, −64ppm/°C, respectively.