Low-Fired (Zn,Mg)TiO3 Microwave Dielectrics

A dielectric ceramic comprised of (Zn1-xMgx)TiO3 (x= 0 to x= 0.5) with low sintering temperature and promising microwave properties was prepared by applying a semichemical synthesis route and a microbeads milling technique. X-ray diffractometry and thermal analyses results indicated that the phase stability region of the hexagonal (Zn,Mg)TiO3 extended to higher temperatures as the amount of magnesium increased. The dielectric properties in this system exhibited a significant dependence on the sintering conditions, especially near the phase decomposition temperature. From 950°C, the temperature compensation characteristics occurred as the phase composition changed from hexagonal (Zn,Mg)TiO3 to two phases: (Zn,Mg)2TiO4 and rutile. The magnesium content for zero temperature coefficient (tauf) was ~3 mol% at 950°C; however, tauf increased with the sintering temperatures because of the shift of the decomposition temperature.