RESIDUAL CARBON DETECTION IN BARIUM-TITANATE CERAMICS BY NUCLEAR-REACTION TECHNIQUE

Residual carbon content in BaTiO3 ceramics synthesized by the citric r esin route has been evaluated by the C-12(d,p)C-13 nuclear reaction te chnique. The C content inside ceramics sintered at 1400 degrees C is a bout 50 ppm in weight. The surface layer (0.4 mu m) exhibits a concent ration of several hundreds or thousands ppm with two origins for the d etected carbon: atmospheric contamination carbon adsorbed at the surfa ce, which has been roughly evaluated and material intrinsic carbon: it s concentration depends mainly on the sintering conditions, shape of c eramic pieces and sintering temperature.