INTERACTION OF BINBO4-BASED LOW-FIRING CERAMICS WITH SILVER ELECTRODES

Several commercial silver electrode pastes have been evaluated for use with BiNbO4-based low-firing ceramics. After electrode application an d subsequent cofiring, the electrode pattern on the ceramic was no lon ger visible. A bismuth; rich second phase was present at the electrode /BiNbO4 interface, and silver was detected in the second phase. System atic X-ray diffractometry analysis of the mixtures between different s ilver pastes and doped/undoped BiNbO4 revealed an interaction between the silver and the BiNbO4. This reaction was responsible for the disap pearance of the silver electrode patterns.