2014 Volume 122 Issue 1426 Pages 460-463
Two-step sintering method has been applied to (Li0.06Na0.47K0.47)NbO3 (LNKN) ceramics in order to obtain a homogenous microstructure and high density (96.1% TD). The effects of the sintering temperature on the microstructure and electrical properties of LNKN ceramics were investigated. The two-step sintering has provided better densification at relatively lower temperature (≦950°C) than that of one-step sintering (1082°C), which suppresses the abnormal grain growth. In addition, the more homogeneous microstructure has been obtained by two-step sintering. The measured dielectric constant, dielectric loss and Curie temperature of the sample for two-step sintering were 666, 2.0% and 454°C, respectively, similar to the values obtained with one-step sintering. Nevertheless, LNKN ceramics prepared by two-step sintering showed higher coercive electric field (=18.8 kV/cm) than that revealed by one-step sintering (=13.0 kV/cm).