Preparation of (Ba1−xSrx)(ZrxTi1−x)O3 Ceramics via the Solid State Reaction Method

Abstract

The effect of calcination (1000–1400°C), sintering temperatures (1400–1650 °C) and the changing of ions in A and B sites on the phase formation and microstructure of barium strontium zirconate titanate (Ba1−xSrx)(ZrxTi1−x)O3, BSZT, x = 0.25 and 0.50 ceramics were investigated. BSZT powders were prepared by the solid state reaction method. It was found that BSZT samples indexed in a cubic structure. Higher calcination temperatures increased the percentage of the perovskite phase. The pure perovskite phase of BSZT with x = 0.25 was detected above the calcined temperature at 1400°C. For the x = 0.50, the second phase of BSZT with x = 0.25 was found at all calcination temperatures. The purity phase was detected in all the ceramic samples. At the same sintering temperatures, the lattice parameter a of BSZT ceramics with x = 0.50 has higher than with x = 0.25. The microstructure of the BSZT powders exhibited an almost-spherical morphology and had a porous agglomerated form. The average particle size (160–420 nm) and average grain size (0.68–12.45 μm) increased with the increase in calcination and sintering temperatures. The optimized density, around 5.64 and 5.42 g/cm3 for x = 0.25 and 0.50, were obtained from BSZT samples calcined at 1500 and 1550°C for 2 h.