Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3-MgO ceramics from ceramic powders prepared by improved aqueous gelcasting-assisted solid-state method

Based on aqueous gelcasting-assisted solid-state method (AGASSM), improved aqueous gelcasting-assisted solid-state method (IAGASSM) was proposed to prepare the 45 wt% Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3-55 wt% MgO (BSTM) ceramic powders. It is found that the BSTM ceramic powders prepared by IAGASSM are the most uniform with the smallest particles (D-av = 0.83 mu m) than those prepared by solid-state method (SSM) and AGASSM. The phase compositions of the BSTM ceramic powders and ceramics from the prepared ceramic powders are the same whatever ceramic powder preparation method is adopted. Compared with SSM and AGASSM, the BSTM green samples and ceramics from ceramic powders prepared by IAGASSM are the most uniform. Furthermore, it is found that adopting IAGASSM to prepare ceramic powders could not only improve the dielectric properties of the BSTM ceramics considerably, but also decrease their sintering temperature. Crown Copyright (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.