Effects of calcination temperature and A/B ratio on the dielectric properties of (Ba,Ca)(Ti,Zr,Mn)O-3 for multilayer ceramic capacitors with nickel electrodes

The electrical performance of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) with Ni inner electrodes, made from (Ba,Ca)-(Ti,Zr,Mn)O-3 (BCTZM), is closely rela ted to the calcination temperature and the A/B ratio of the powder. For mat erials showing A/B = 1.000, the lifetime, the breakdown voltage, and the RC increase with higher calcination temperatures. No significant effect of th e calcination temperature on RC and lifetime was found for materials showin g A/B = 0.991, The isoelectric point of BCTZM is shifted toward higher pH v alues when the calcination temperature is decreased. The above results are attributed to the colloidal stability of aqueous BCTZM suspensions and the resulting green density of powder compacts.