Effects of LBSCA glass addition on the sintering characteristic and microwave dielectric properties of ZnTiNb2O8 ceramics

In this study, ZnTiNb2O8-xLBSCA (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1 wt%) ceramics were synthesized via solid-phase reaction. Effects of different contents of LBSCA glass on the sintering characteristic, phase composition, microstructure, and microwave dielectric properties of ZnTiNb2O8-xLBSCA ceramics were investigated in detail via X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Rietveld refinement analysis. Rietveld refinement result confirmed the existence of main phase ZnTiNb2O8 and secondary phase ZnNb2O6 in all samples, and the content of secondary phase decreased with increasing x. LBSCA glass obviously promoted grain growth, densification, and ordered arrangement of grains, which was conducive to good microwave dielectric properties. In general, the addition of LBSCA glass contributed to a decrease in sintering temperature to 950 °C, as well as improvement in microwave dielectric properties of ZnTiNb2O8 ceramics. ZnTiNb2O8-0.4wt%.LBSCA ceramics sintered at 950 °C showed excellent optimal properties of $${\varepsilon }_{r}$$ = 33.826, $$Q\times f$$  = 49,143 GHz, and $${\tau }_{f}$$ = $$-57.59 {\rm ppm}/^\circ{\rm C }$$ . Therefore, this ceramic can act as potential candidate for low-temperature fired material and promisingly be applied to multilayer filters and antennas.