Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3-glass-silver percolative composite

Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3-glass-silver (BST-glass-Ag) composites were prepared by the solid state ceramic route. Their percolation behavior and dielectric properties were examined. The pure BST had a percolation limit of 24 vol% of silver whereas an addition of 8 wt% of 50PbO-30B(2)O(3)-20SiO(2) (PBS) glass lowered the percolation limit to 14 vol% of Ag. Glass addition lowered the sintering temperature of BST from 1300 to 975 degrees C and addition of Ag further lowered the sintering temperature to 925 degrees C, minimizing the Ag loss during sintering. The relative permittivity increased from 2700 for pure BST to about five orders of magnitude in the BST-glass-Ag composites near the percolation threshold. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.