Synthesis and characterization of reaction sintered CaTiO3-LnAlO3(Ln=La, Nd) ceramics

Abstract Owing to the rapid development of wireless communication technologies, microwave dielectric ceramics have been proposed to facilitate an increase in the performance of functional ceramic components. Herein, CaTiO3-LnAlO3(Ln=La, Nd) ceramics were synthesized via reaction sintering to produce low-cost, high-efficiency, materials. The reaction-sintering method, which imparts excellent comprehensive properties, was used to fabricate these ceramics. The subtle variations in the densification behavior, phase transformation, phase composition, microstructural evolution, and performance exhibited by the CaTiO3-LnAlO3(Ln=La, Nd) ceramics were systematically evaluated. The X-ray diffraction patterns obtained from each sample indicate that the Ca0.61La0.39Al0.39Ti0.61O3 (CTLA) and Ca0.7Nd0.3Ti0.7Al0.3O3 (CTNA) phases were generated under certain environmental conditions. The as-synthesized ceramics exhibited excellent performance parameters: er = 39.1, Q × f = 45 635 GHz, τf = −1.48 ppm/°C and er = 44.03, Q × f = 46 269 GHz, τf = +2.63 ppm/°C, respectively. In addition, the ceramics retained their strong performance parameters irrespective of external temperature fluctuations. The reaction sintering method provides an economical, convenient, and facile method for the fabrication of CaTiO3-LnAlO3(Ln=La, Nd) ceramics which, in turn, imparts broad prospects for the application and development of these materials.