Role of sintering on magneto-electric effect in CuFe1.8Cr0.2O4-Ba0.8Pb0.2Ti0.8Zr0.2O3 composite ceramics

Magnetoelectric composites containing CuFe1.8Cr0.2O4-Ba0.8Pb0.2Ti0.8Zr0.2O3 phases have been prepared by sintering them at different flring temperatur es. The particle size for either phase of the composite was found to increa se, whereas porosity decreases with increase in sintering temperature. This is due to the increase in the grain size with increase in sintering temper ature. Resistivity of the composite decreases with increase in either sinte ring temperature or with increase in CuFe1.8Cr0.2O4 content. The variation of dielectric constant (epsilon') with temperature reflects DPT type behavi our. The peak value of dielectric constant (epsilon'(max)) for a composite decreased with increase in its sintering temperature. The maximum value of the magnetoelectric conversion factor (dE/dH)(max) equal to 182.7 muV/(cm*O e) is obtained for 70% Ba0.8Pb0.2Ti0.8Zr0.2O3-30% CuFe1.8Cr0.2O4 composite when sintered at 1000 degreesC. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd and Techna S. r.l. All rights reserved.