The magnetic and dielectric properties of microwave sintered yttrium iron garnet (YIG)

Yttrium iron garnet (YIG) material is widely used in microwave devices. Experiments show that microwave sintering (MS) treated YIG materials possess excellent properties with a saturation magnetization of 14.60 emu/g and coercive force 34.82 Oe. In the frequency range of 1 MHz–1.8 GHz, the relative dielectric constant is from 6.5 to 7.0, the line-width is 105 Oe, dielectric loss less than 0.09 and magnetic loss less than 0.7. Furthermore, the sintering time and temperature were significantly reduced from 20 h and 1300 °C for the conventional sintering (CS) process to 2 h and 900 °C for MS technique, respectively.     

Influence of thermal treatment on the structure,humidity sensitivity,electrical and magnetic properties of barium–tungsten ferrite

The purpose of this study was to analyze the methods and effects of introducing tungsten ions in a hexagonal barium ferrite structure by partial substitute of barium with tungsten. For this investigation we prepared a tungsten substitution on the barium hexaferrite Ba_0.5W_0.5Fe₁₂O₁₉ using sol–gel self-combustion technology. The powder was treated for 30 min, without atmosphere precautions, at 850 °C, 900 °C, 950 °C, 1000 °C and 1050 °C. Scanning electron microscopy has revealed the crystallite size and shape, and the X-ray diffraction was provided information related to the phase compositions. The investigation was focused on the variation of permittivity and electrical resistivity, in relation to the treatment temperature, frequency and humidity. We have also investigated the influence of thermal treatment on to Curie temperature and frequency characteristics of the relative permeability. Because barium–tungsten ferrite shows a porous structure, the measurements are strongly influenced by humidity conditions, and in this respect we analyzed the variations with humidity of permittivity and electrical resistivity.     

Sintering and electromagnetic properties of BaFe12O19 ferrite prepared by co-precipitation method

BaFe₁₂O₁₉ (BaM) was synthesized through the co-precipitation route. Pure phase BaM was formed after calcination of precipitated powder at 900 °C. BaM was sintered at three different temperatures; 1100, 1200, and 1300 °C to study the sintering kinetics by varying the sintering time from 1 to 4 h. Apparent porosity decreased, and bulk density increased with increasing sintering temperature and period. A bulk density of about 4.6 g/cm³ was achieved after sintering at 1300 °C/4 h. The rate-controlling mechanism of BaM densification was the diffusion of oxygen, and the activation energy for the sintering process was 274 kJ/mol. The grain size of BaM increased with rising sintering temperatures. Permittivity increased from about 11 to 17 and the permeability increased from about 10 to 16 with the increase in sintering temperature from 1100 to 1300 °C. Saturation magnetization was also enhanced to about 69 emu/g after sintering at 1300 °C/4 h. Therefore, BaM ferrite synthesized through the co-precipitation route can be effectively used for high-frequency applications after sintering at 1300 °C.

     

Mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite–zirconia compacts sintered by two different sintering methods

Microwave sintering is traditionally employed to reduce the sintering temperature required to densify powder compacts. The effect of microwave heating on hydroxyapatite (HA)–zirconia (ZrO₂) green bodies has been investigated in order to understand how microwave energy may affect the physical and mechanical properties of the resultant densified composites. Laboratory synthesised nano-sized HA and a commercial nano-sized ZrO₂ powder have been ball milled to create mixtures containing 0–5 wt% ZrO₂ loadings. Compacts were microwave sintered at either 700, 1000 or 1200°C with a 1 h hold time. Comparative firings were also performed in a resistive element furnace using the same heating profile in order to assess the differences between conventional and microwave heating on the physical, mechanical and microstructural properties of the composites. Samples sintered at 700°C show little sign of densification with open porosities of approximately 50%. Composites conventionally sintered at 1000°C were between 65 and 75% dense, whereas the samples microwave sintered at this temperature were between 55 and 65% dense. Samples sintered at 1200°C showed the greatest degree of densification (>80%) with a corresponding reduction in open porosities. TCP generation occurred as a consequence of sintering at 1200°C, even with 0 wt% ZrO₂, and increased degradation of the HA phase to form significant amounts of TCP occurred with increasing additions of ZrO₂, along with increasing open porosity. Nanosized ZrO₂ prevents the densification of the HA matrix by effectively pinning grain boundaries and this effect is more pronounced in the MS materials. Similar strengths are achieved between the microwave and conventionally sintered samples. Greater amount of open porosity and pore interconnectivity are seen in the MS samples, which are considered to be useful for biomedical applications as they can promote osteo-integration.     

Microwave dielectric properties and compatibility with silver of low-fired Ba2Ti3Nb4O18 ceramics with BaCu(B2O5) addition

The effects of BaCu(B₂O₅) (BCB) additions on the sintering temperature and microwave dielectric properties of Ba₂Ti₃Nb₄O₁₈ ceramic have been investigated. The addition of BCB can lower the sintering temperature of Ba₂Ti₃Nb₄O₁₈ ceramic from 1,250 to 900 °C and induce no obvious degradation of the microwave dielectric properties. Typically, the 5 wt% BCB added Ba₂Ti₃Nb₄O₁₈ ceramic sintered at 900 °C for 2 h exhibited good microwave dielectric properties of Q × f = 17,600 GHz, ε _r = 38.2 and τ _f  = 7 ppm/°C. The dielectric ceramic demonstrated stability against the reaction with the Ag electrode, which suggests that the ceramics could be applied in multilayer microwave devices requiring low sintering temperatures.     

Microwave dielectric properties of Mg(Zr0.05Ti0.95)O3-SrTiO3 ceramics

The microwave dielectric properties of (1−x)Mg(Zr_0.05Ti_0.95)O₃-xSrTiO₃ ceramics prepared by conventional solid processing were investigated. With increasing x, the dielectric constant and the quality factor decreased, and the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency was tuned from negative to positive value. The effect of sintering temperature on microwave properties was also studied. After sintering at 1,390 °C for 4 h, the ceramics exhibited a near zero temperature coefficient of resonant frequency about 2.1 ppm/°C, an optimum dielectric constant of 20.9 and a high quality factor of 203000 (6.8 GHz), at the level of x = 0.05.     

A new microwave dielectric ceramic for LTCC applications

A new low-sintering temperature microwave dielectric ceramic was found and investigated in the Li₂O–Nb₂O₅–TiO₂ (Li₂O:Nb₂O₅:TiO₂ = 5.7:1:14.7, by mole, abbreviated as LNT) system. This new microwave dielectric ceramic shows a relatively high permittivity (47), high Q × f values up to 17,800 GHz, and low temperature coefficients (57 ppm/°C), which were obtained via sintering at 1,125 °C. With the low-level doping of B₂O₃–CuO (BCu) (below 2 wt%), the sintering temperature of the LNT ceramic could be effectively reduced to 900 °C. The addition of BCu does not induce apparent degradation in the microwave properties but lowers the τ _f value. Typically, the 2.0 wt% BCu-doped ceramics sintered at 900 °C have better microwave dielectric properties of ε_r = 48.7, Q × f = 16,350 GHz, τ _f  = 32 ppm/°C, which suggest that the ceramics could be applied in multilayer microwave devices requiring low sintering temperatures.     

Effect of V2O5 additive to 0.4SrTiO3–0.6La(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3 ceramics on sintering behavior and microwave dielectric properties

The effect of V₂O₅ addition on the microwave dielectric properties and the microstructures of 0.4SrTiO₃–0.6La(Mg_0.5Ti_0.5)O₃ ceramics sintered for 5 h at different sintering temperature were investigated systematically. It was found that the sintering temperature was effectively lowered about 200 °C by increasing V₂O₅ addition content. The grain sizes, bulk density as well as microwave dielectric properties were greatly dependent on sintering temperature and V₂O₅ content. The 4ST–6LMT ceramics with 0.25% V₂O₅ sintered at 1400 °C for 5 h in air exhibited optimum microwave dielectric properties of ɛ_r = 50.7, Q × f = 15049.6 GHz, T_f = −1.7 ppm/°C.     

0.3–3 GHz magneto-dielectric properties of nanostructured NiZnCo ferrite from hydrothermal process

A simple hydrothermal route with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide was proposed for directly synthesizing single-crystalline NiZnCo ferrite at 160 °C. X-ray diffraction patterns and micrographs indicate that products consist of spinel ferrite nanocrystals. The dielectric constant of NiZnCo ferrite is about 11 and the imaginary part of complex permittivity is 1.3. The saturation magnetization of Ni_0.54Zn_0.48Fe_1.98O₄ increases from 41.36 to 73.9 emu/g for Ni_0.55Zn_0.46Fe_1.98O₄ with a cobalt stoichiometry of 0.01. The real part μ′ of complex permeability for NiZnCo ferrite reaches 3 at 1 GHz. The imaginary part μ″ of NiZnCo ferrite has values higher than 1.2 within 0.7–3 GHz. Through the incorporation of the magnetic fillers, the low dielectric constant of the composites may meet the requirements of impedance matching to achieve maximal absorption of the electromagnetic energy in GHz frequency range.     

Microwave dielectric properties of 3Li2O–Nb2O5–3TiO2 ceramics with Li2O–V2O5 additions

A new Li₂O–Nb₂O₅–TiO₂ (LNT) ceramic with the Li₂O:Nb₂O₅:TiO₂ mole ratio of 3:1:3 has been investigated. The compound is composed of two phases, the Li₂TiO₃ and “M-phase” solid solution phase. The microwave dielectric ceramic has low sintering temperature (∼1100 °C) and good microwave dielectric properties of a relatively high permittivity (∼51), high Q × f value up to 8700, and small temperature coefficient (∼37 ppm/°C). The low-amount doping of 0.83Li₂O–0.17V₂O₅ (LV) can effectively lower the sintering temperature from 1100 to 900 °C and induce no obvious degradation of the microwave dielectric properties. Typically, the 1 wt.% LV-doped ceramic sintered at 900 °C has better microwave dielectric properties of ε_r = 51.3, Q × f = 7235 GHz, τ _f  = 22 ppm/°C, which suggests that the ceramics can be applied in microwave LTCC devices.     

Low-firing of BiSbO4 microwave dielectric ceramic with V2O5–CuO addition

Effects of 1.0 wt.% V₂O₅–CuO mixture addition on the sintering behavior, phase composition and microwave dielectric properties of BiSbO₄ ceramics have been investigated. BiSbO₄ ceramics can be well densified below temperature about 930 °C with 1.0 wt.% V₂O₅–CuO mixtures addition with different ratios of CuO to V₂O₅. The formation of BiVO₄ phase and substitution of Cu²⁺ can explain the decrease of sintering temperature. Dense BiSbO₄ ceramics sintered at 930 °C for 2 h exhibited good microwave dielectric properties with permittivity between 19 and 20.5, Qf values between 19,000 and 40,000 GHz and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency shifting between ?71.5 ppm °C^?1 and ?77.8 ppm °C^?1. BiSbO₄ ceramics could be a candidate for microwave application and low temperature co-fired ceramics technology.     

Dilatometry of attrition milled nanocrystalline titanium powders

The sintering behavior of nanosized titanium powders was investigated by dilatometry. The nanosized Ti powders (40 nm) were produced by the attrition milling of micron sized Ti powders (12 μm) in Ar atmosphere. Sintering was carried out in Ar atmosphere in the temperature range of 450–1250 °C for nanosized Ti and 650–1250 °C for micron sized Ti by heating at 10 °C/min, up to the sintering temperature followed by isothermal holding for 1 h. The nanosized Ti powders exhibited a lower sintering onset temperature, larger shrinkage, larger shrinkage rate, and lower activation energy for sintering as compared to the micron sized Ti powders. The sintered micron sized Ti specimens exhibited both intraagglomerate and interagglomerate porosity while the nanosized Ti specimens exhibited well densified agglomerates (almost no interagglomerate porosity) and large intraagglomerate porosity. In nanosized Ti grain growth was found to take place beyond 700 °C and reached a maximum of 66 nm in samples sintered at 1100 °C.     

Electrical and magnetic properties of Mg0.85Co0.15Fe2O4 ceramics with V2O5 additives

In this study, magnesium-cobalt ferrite (Mg_0.85Co_0.15Fe₂O₄) powder was synthesized using a solid-state synthesis method, followed by the liquid sintering using 0.50–3.00 wt% vanadium oxide (V₂O₅) at 1050 °C for 2 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies confirmed the formation of spinel ferrite. Microstructure studies revealed that by increasing the amount of V₂O₅ from 0.50 to 3.00 wt%, the average grain size was reduced from 15.9?±?5.9 to 7.0?±?2.5 μm and the samples were highly densified. V₂O₅ promoted the sintering process and reduced the dielectric constant (ε′), loss tangent (tanδ), and increased electrical resistivity. A magnesium-cobalt ferrite sample with 25.4 dielectric constant, 0.078 loss tangent, and 9.0?×?10⁵ Ω.cm resistivity at 1 MHz was achieved using 3.00 wt% V₂O₅. Increasing V₂O₅ content caused increasing coercivity (Hc) from 89 to 129 Oe. Moreover, the maximum saturation magnetization (Ms) value of 26.8 emu/g was obtained for the sample containing 1.50 wt% V₂O₅. The small dielectric loss tangent of the samples at 1 MHz suggests applications of these ceramics in microwave devices.

     

Structural and magnetic properties of plate-like W-type barium ferrites synthesized with a combination method of molten salt and sol–gel

Plate-like W-type barium ferrites (BaCoZnFe₁₆O₂₇) were prepared by using a combined method of molten salt and a sol–gel process. Pure plate-like W-type barium ferrite with large size about 25 μm and high aspect ratio (diameter/thickness) of ∼35 was obtained at a sintering temperature of 1200 °C. Morphology, phase evolution and static properties of the samples sintered at different temperatures (800–1200 °C) and dynamic magnetic properties of their composites with silicon resin were investigated by using SEM, XRD, VSM and VNA. It was found that the saturation magnetization M_s increased with increasing sintering temperature, whereas the coercivity H_c decreased. Silicon resin composites filled with 45 vol% of the plate-like BaCoZnFe₁₆O₂₇ particles sintered at 1200 °C exhibited promising microwave attenuation properties.     

Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline ferroelectric Sr0.8Bi2.2Ta2O9 by conventional and microwave sintering: A comparative study

In recent years mechanical activation technique has been utilized to synthesize the nanocrystalline form of compounds resulting in enhancement in the properties. Also, microwave sintering is being preferred over conventional sintering due to rapid processing and uniform temperature distribution throughout the specimen. In the present work, nanocrystalline non-stoichiometric strontium bismuth tantalate (SBT) of the composition Sr_0.8Bi_2.2Ta₂O₉ ferroelectric ceramics were synthesized by microwave sintering process (with sintering temperatures of 1000 °C and 1100 °C) and conventional solid state reaction process (with sintering temperature of 1100 °C) with an objective of comparing the properties of the synthesized specimens by the two processes. X-ray diffraction analysis shows the formation of single phase layered perovskite structure formation by both the processes. Scanning electron microscopy reveals the formation of a finer granular microstructure in the specimen synthesized by microwave sintering compared to that in the specimen prepared by conventional sintering. The specimen prepared by microwave sintering process exhibits improved electrical properties with higher dielectric constant, higher piezoelectric and pyroelectric coefficients and lower dielectric loss.     

Enhancing absorption properties of Mg–Ti substituted barium hexaferrite nanocomposite through the addition of MWCNT

M-type barium ferrite with Mg–Ti substitution and MWCNT addition was synthesized using high-energy ball milling. The prepared sample was further analyzed using X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), vibrating sample magnetometer and vector network analyzer. The results showed that the particle size had a wide range of distribution, and a hexagonal structure was formed in the sample. The sample was observed to have lower saturation magnetization and coercivity after Mg–Ti was substituted with MWCNT and added into the barium hexaferrite. Reflection loss was studied as a function of frequency and thickness of the sample. For Mg–Ti substituted barium hexaferrite composite with a thickness of 2.0 mm, the reflection loss peaked at ?28.83 dB at a frequency of 15.57 GHz with a bandwidth of 6.43 GHz at a loss of less than ?10 dB. The microwave absorption primarily resulted from magnetic losses caused by magnetization relaxation, domain wall resonance, and natural resonance. FESEM micrograph demonstrated that carbon nanotubes were attached to the external surface of the ferrite nanoparticles. The investigation of the microwave absorption indicated that with an addition of carbon nanotubes, the real and imaginary parts of permittivity and reflection loss had enhanced to ?34.16 dB at a frequency of 14.19 GHz with a bandwidth of 5.72 GHz.     

Effect of sintering temperature on the dielectric and varistor properties of SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–Zn<Subscript>2</Subscript>SnO<Subscript>4</Subscript> composite ceramics

The effect of sintering temperature from 1350 to 1450 °C on the dielectric and varistor properties of SnO₂–Zn₂SnO₄ composite ceramics has been systematically investigated. With the increasing of sintering temperature, the average grain size increased from about 1 to 5 μm and the breakdown electric field decreased from 117 to 3 V/mm. The relative dielectric constant increased with sintering temperature and it achieved the maximum of 1.2 × 10⁴ (40 Hz, 0 °C) at 1425 °C. With excessive increasing of sintering temperature, the relative dielectric constant decreased and the microstructure of the ceramic bulk became porous. In the spectra of imaginary part of the complex modulus, a peak was exhibited and the peak’s position shifted to high frequency with increasing testing or sintering temperature. The activation energy related to the peak was about 0.4 eV and this value was thought to be associated with the oxygen vacancies. Based on the sintering effect, the mechanism of oxygen vacancies in SnO₂–Zn₂SnO₄ composite ceramics was proposed and accordingly, the varistor and giant permittivity properties are well understood based on the grain boundary barrier model.     

Effect of Mn4+ substitution on thermal, structural, dielectric and impedance properties of lead titanate

Polycrystalline samples of Mn-modified lead titanate (Pb Mn _x Ti_1−x O₃ (PMT) with x = 0, 0.04, 0.07, 0.10) were prepared by a high-temperature solid-state reaction method. Calcination and sintering temperatures were optimized by thermal gravimetric analysis and repeated firing. Preliminary structural studies using an X-ray diffraction technique (at room temperature) suggest that compounds are formed in a single phase with tetragonal crystal system. Scanning electron micrographs show uniform grain distribution throughout the surface of the samples. Detailed studies of dielectric and impedance properties of the compounds in a wide range of temperature (35 °C–500 °C) and frequency range (1 kHz–1 MHz) exhibit that phase transition temperature of the PMT compounds depends on Mn concentration. The real and imaginary part of complex impedance plots exhibit semicircle(s) in the complex plane. The temperature dependent plots reveal the presence of both bulk and grain boundary effects at high-temperature. The bulk resistance of the material decreases with rise in temperatures. This exhibits a typical negative temperature coefficient of resistance behaviour of the material.     

High temperature mechanical properties of triple phase steels

A 0.15% C–1.2% Si–1.7% Mn steel was intercritically annealed at 780 °C for 5 min and then isothermally held at 400 °C for 4 min followed by oil quenching to room temperature and the annealed microstructure consist of 75% ferrite , 15% bainite and 10% retained austenite was produced. Samples of this steel with triple phase structure were tensile tested at temperature range of 25–450 °C. Stress–strain curves showed serration flow at temperature range of 120–400 °C and smooth flow at the other temperatures. All of the stress–strain curves showed discontinuous yielding at all testing temperatures. Both yield and ultimate tensile strength decreased with increasing temperature, but there exists a temperature region (120–400 °C) where a reduction of strength with increasing temperature is retarded or even slightly increased. The variation in the mechanical properties with temperature was related to the effects of dynamic strain aging, high temperature softening, bainite tempering and austenite to martensite transformation during deformation.     

Microstructure and dielectric properties of CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramic

CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) was prepared by the solid state technique. The sample was calcined at 900 °C/12 h and sintered at 1050 °C/24 h, then subjected to XRD to ensure CCTO formation. The microstructure was observed by SEM. XRD results identified both samples as single phase CCTO, whereas the microstructure shows abnormal grain growth and large pores. Sintering was studied in the temperature range of 950–1050 °C for 3–12 h. Increasing sintering temperature enhances the density and secondary formation of Cu₂O. A clear grain boundary and dense microstructure were observed. The results show that the sample sintered at 1040 °C/10 h yields a clearly uniform grain size with the highest ε_r (33,210).