Lowering of sintering temperature and microwave dielectric properties of BaTi4O9 ceramics prepared by the polymeric precursor method

Pure and fine BaTi4O9 powders with particle sizes of 100-200 nm were derived by thermal decomposition of amorphous gel precursor (above 750 C). They formed single orthorhombic BaTi4O9 phase and were fine and well-dispersed. The high sinterability of the prepared powders enabled the fabrication of dielectric ceramics at low sintering temperatures (1200-1300 C). The well-sintered BaTi4O9 ceramics with high relative densities (95%) were found to show excellent microwave dielectric properties compared to those prepared by conventional method at the same sintering temperature. 22 refs.