Fabrication nanopowders by high-energy ball-milling and low temperature sintering Li2TiO3 microwave dielectrics

In this study, Li2TiO3 nanopowders were synthesized via a high-energy ball-milling process followed by calcinations and Li2TiO3 ceramics were fabricated by solid-state reaction. The microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of Li2TiO3 ceramics were also investigated systematically. Li2TiO3 nanopowders with an average particle size of 86.7 nm were derived at 600 degrees C for 2 h. X-ray diffraction patterns exhibited that single monoclinic structure of the Li2TiO3 ceramics were obtained at an optimum sintering temperature of 1000 degrees C for 2 h by using low temperature synthesis nanopowders as a precursor. The samples of Li2TiO3 ceramics with grain sizes in the range of 1.5-5.0 mu m showed dense microstructures and excellent microwave dielectric properties (epsilon(r) = 16.4, Q x f = 54,326 GHz, tau(f) = 27.4 ppm/degrees C). All these results illustrated that high-energy ball-milling method is a simple and practical route to produce Li2TiO3 ceramics for microwave applications. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.