Characterization and microwave dielectric properties of wolframite-type MgZrNb2O8 ceramics

Wolframite type MgZrNb2O8 ceramics were prepared by solid-state method and sol gel process in this study, and the influence of sol gel process on the sintering behavior and microwave dielectric properties of MgZrNb2O8 ceramics was investigated. The optimal sintering temperatures of MgZrNb2O8 ceramic for solid-state and sol gel method were 1225 degrees C and 1175 degrees C, respectively. For solid-state method, MZN ceramics sintered at 1225 C with nearly full density had the microwave dielectric properties of Cr = 27.08, Qf = 29,070 GHz and Tf = 24.31 ppm/degrees C. For sol gel process, MZN ceramics sintered at 1175 degrees C with nearly full density had excellent microwave dielectric properties of epsilon(Gamma) = 22.16, Q.f= 29,490 GHz and tau f= 15.99 ppm/degrees C. Obviously, sol gel synthetic route could significantly reduce the sintering temperature and improve the microwave dielectric properties. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.