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Correlation Between the Microstructure and the Electrical Properties of ZrTiO 4 Ceramics
Author(s) -
Ličina Vesna,
Gajović Andreja,
MogušMilanković Andrea,
Djerdj Igor,
Tomašić Nenad,
Su Dangsheng
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2007.02139.x
Subject(s) - materials science , sintering , microstructure , ceramic , grain boundary , grain size , electrical resistivity and conductivity , grain growth , porosity , composite material , conductivity , mineralogy , chemistry , electrical engineering , engineering
A series of ZrTiO 4 (ZT) ceramics were prepared by sintering ball‐milled precursor powders. Ceramics with homogenously dispersed micropores containing both low‐temperature (ordered) and high‐temperature (disordered) ZrTiO 4 phases were achieved by sintering at 1400°C. The porosity and the morphology were modified by changing the sintering time. The impedance spectra followed the observed changes in the ceramics' microstructure. The grain boundaries' shape, rather than the grain size, has the major influence on the conductivity. The lowest value for electrical conductivity, 8.1 × 10 −10 (Ω·m) −1 , was obtained in the ceramics sintered at 1400°C for 4 h. This confirms the blocking effect of the imperfect grain boundaries; i.e., the defects of the grain boundaries, which were formed during the grain growth, were followed by an almost complete loss of pores.