Sintering behaviors and microwave dielectric properties of Ba3P4O13 ceramics

In this study, a Ba3P4O13 ceramic was synthesized adopting a conventional solid-state ceramic method. Optimal microwave dielectric properties were obtained in ceramic samples sintered at 840 degrees C for 4 h with a epsilon(r) (permittivity) = 7.9, a Q x f (Q = 1/dielectric loss, f = resonant frequency) = 14,200 GHz (at 11.18 GHz), and a tau(f) (TCF, temperature coefficient of resonant frequency) = + 48 ppm/degrees C. tau(f) value shifted from + 45 ppm/degrees C to - 31.5 ppm/degrees C with sintering temperature rising from 860 degrees C to 900 degrees C, and this decrease in tau(f) value was mainly caused by the decomposition of Ba3P4O13 into BaP2O6 and Ba2P2O7. Furthermore, a ceramic sample sintered at 890 degrees C achieved a near zero tau(f) (- 1.3 ppm/degrees C), together with a epsilon(r) = 7.7 and a Q x f = 13,000 GHz (at 11.44 GHz). Ba3P4O13 ceramic has demonstrated potential as a material suitable for low-temperature co-fired ceramic technology (LTCC).