Optimization mechanisms of density and quality factor of Ba(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3 ceramics by adding CaO–B2O3–ZnO glass

Abstract

In this study, Ba(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3 (BMT) ceramics added with different amounts of CaO–B2O3–ZnO (CBZ) glass were prepared through the solid-state sintering route. The sintering behavior, microstructure, phase composition and dielectric properties of the BMT ceramics added with CBZ glass were investigated. The addition of CBZ glass decreased the sintering temperature of BMT ceramics by over 300 °C, resulting in a highly dense microstructure without interacting with the main BMT phase. The lower sintering temperature led to small ceramic grains and caused a decrease in the Q × f value. Prolonging the sintering time improved the ordering degree of cations on the B-site in BMT ceramic, leading to an enhancement in the Q × f value. The BMT ceramic added with 0.4 wt% CBZ glass exhibited excellent microwave dielectric properties: εr = 24.19, Q × f = 115,100 GHz, τf = 9.84 ppm/°C, after sintering at 1400 °C for 12 h.