Synthesis, characterization and effect of atmosphere on sintering behavior of BaTiO3 nano-powders

Abstract

Barium Titanate (BaTiO3) is a classic perovskite material for the manufacture of multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) in electronic industry. Day to day miniaturization mobile device demands BaTiO3 nanoparticles to fabricate multilayer along with metal electrode and hence control atmosphere sintering is necessary to achieve best performance of this metal-ceramic composite layers. Hence, prime objective of this work was to synthesis of BaTiO3 nanopowders, their relevant characterization and finally their sintering behavior study at different atmospheres at different sintering profile. In this research, combined wet-chemical and subsequent calcination technique has been adapted to synthesis nanoscale BaTiO3 powders. Cosmetic grade TiO2 was used to prepare BaTiO3 nanoparticles from as-synthesized elongated BaCO3 nanoparticles. Pure, high crystalline, BaTiO3 powder was successfully synthesized at 1100oC. Powders were consolidate through uniaxial press and sintered in dilatometer furnace at different temperature profile in air, argon and nitrogen atmosphere. Maximum density was obtained in air and lowest in argon atmosphere, this is due to effect of partial pressure of oxygen. A significant change in d-spacing was also observed after control atmosphere sintering at 1250oC and 1350oC. The sintering behavior and their microstructure could be modified through synchronization of consolidation technique and gas flow rate.