Sintering behavior and microwave dielectric characteristics of ZnTiNb2O8 ceramics achieved by reaction sintering of ZnO-TiO2-Nb2O5 nanosized powders

Sintering behavior, microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of ZnTiNb2O8 (ZTN) ceramics prepared by reaction-sintering method were investigated. The prepared ceramic samples were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and microwave dielectric measurements. All samples prepared at sintering temperatures ranging from 1025 to 1125 degrees C exhibit a single ixiofite phase and their relative densities range from similar to 86.5 % to similar to 99 %. The variation trend of permittivity and Q x f value was in accordance with variation trend of relative density. Pure ixiolite ZTN ceramic sintered at 1075 degrees C for 5 h exhibits good microwave dielectric properties with a permittivity about 36.7, Q x f value about 54,000 GHz, and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency about -70.4 ppm/degrees C. The obtained results demonstrated that the reaction-sintering process is a simple and effective method to prepare the ZnTiNb2O8 ceramics for passive microwave dielectric devises. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.