Ba3M3Ti5Nb5O30 (M=Sm or Y) compounds were synthesized by the conventional p
owder compaction and high temperature solid state reaction technique. The c
alcined compounds were pelletized and sintered in the range 1275-1325 degre
esC for 4 h. The dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the sintered pe
llets were measured and further characterised by X-ray diffraction and scan
ning electron microscopy (SEM). Sm and Y substituted compounds were found t
o have tetragonal structure and shown dielectric constants of 145 and 49 re
spectively at 1 MHz. The dielectric loss increases with frequency. Samarium
compound had undergone a diffuse phase transition in the temperature range
195-210 degreesC whereas the same with Yttrium had shown the transition at
around 25 degreesC. (C) 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.