Abstract
This study investigates the effect of B2O3 on the sintering behaviour, dielectric properties and microstructure of Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 + 0.6% CuO (BSTC) ceramics. Ceramics were sintered in air at temperatures ranging from 900 to 1150°C. There are two kinds of secondary phases produced in BSTC ceramics during B2O3 addition; one is BaCuB2O5 with a melting point of approximately 850°C, and the other is BaTi(BO3)2 with a melting point of ∼749°C. The amount of secondary phase present was seen to increase as the amount of B2O3 additives increased. The BSTC ceramics with 1 mass % B2O3 sintered at 1000°C in air for 2 hours exhibited a maximum permittivity, εmax = 1826, and a bulk density >95% of theoretical density. Moreover, 0.5 mass % B2O3 doped BSTC sintered at 1000°C exhibits a maximum permittivity, εmax = 2100, and a bulk density >92% of theoretical density.
