Microstructural Control of BaTiO3 Thick Film Fabricated by Utilizing Slide-Off Transfer Printing

Effects of fabrication conditions on the microstructure of thick BaTiO₃ films have been investigated by employing slide-off transfer printing technique. Formation of dense films with good adhesive properties was difficult when screen-printing was employed in preparing the slide-off transfer sheets (BaTiO₃ green films), irrespective of the kind of solvents used for the slurries. On the other hand, relatively dense films could be fabricated from the slide-off transfer sheet prepared by spin-coating of the slurries consisting of fine BaTiO₃ powder (particle size: ca. 0.1 m), printing oil, and 2-propanol, though cracks formed obviously. Co-addition of large BaTiO₃ particles (particle size: ca. 0.5 m) was very effective for reducing the formation of cracks, and homogenous and dense films could be fabricated by controlling the additive amount of the large particles.