Characteristics of BNZ Ceramic Prepared by Using Bismuth Oxide as Sintering Aid

In this study, characteristics of (Bi0.5Na0.3)ZrO3 ceramic by using bismuth oxide as a sintering aid at appropriate sintering temperature were investigated. Phase characteristic of BNZ powder was checked by X-ray diffraction technique. It was found that BNZ powder has orthorhombically distorted perovskite (ABO(3)) structure. After that, BNZ/xBi(2)O(3) powders with x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 wt% were pressed and sintered at 900 degrees C for 2 h. Their X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that all produced a single phase perovskite phase. Microstructure was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. It could be seen that un-modified BNZ ceramic composed of large pore and grain growth which was rather low. This induced the specimen showed a minimum relative density value. However, its microstructure evolution and relative densities were enhanced with increasing of Bi2O3 content.