Effect of B2O3 addition on the sintering temperature and microwave dielectric properties of Zn2SiO4 ceramics

Abstract

B2O3 (25.0 mol%) was added to Zn2-xSiO4-x ceramics (0.0 <= x <= 0.5) to decrease the sintering temperature. Specimens with 0.0 <= x <= 0.3 sintered at 900 degrees C were well sintered with a high density due to the formation of a B2O3 or B2O3-SiO2 liquid phase. The Q x f value of the Zn2SiO4 ceramic was relatively low, 32,000 GHz, most likely due to the presence of a ZnO second phase. A maximum Q x f value of 70,000 GHz was obtained for the specimens with x = 0.2-0.3, and their epsilon(r) and tau(f) values were approximately 6.0 and -21.9 ppm/degrees C, respectively. Ag metal did not interact with the 25.0 mol% B2O3-added Zn1.8SiO3.8 ceramic, indicating that Zn2-xSiO4-x ceramics containing B2O3 are a good candidate materials for low temperature co-fired ceramic devices. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All fights reserved.