Preparation and Properties of Si2N2O Ceramics for Microwave Sintering Furnaces

Si2N2O ceramics were prepared using amorphous Si3N4 as the raw material and Li2CO3 as the sintering additive through vacuum multi-stage sintering.The influence of the Li2CO3 addition(0%,1%,2%,3%,and 5%,by mass)on the phase composition,the microstructure,the porosity,the mechanical properties,the dielectric constant and the tangent of the dielectric loss angle of the porous Si2N2O ceramics was investigated.The results reveal that a suitable addition of Li2CO3 can promote the generation of Si2N2O but excessive or inadequate Li2CO3 causes decomposition of Si2N2O ceramics.The prepared porous Si2N2O ceramics have good mechanical properties,good thermal shock resistance,and low dielectric properties,which have excellent potential for application in microwave sintering furnaces.

Low-temperature sintering and microwave dielectric properties of Li_2MgTi_3O_8 ceramics doped with BaCu(B_2O_5)

The influences of BaCu(B2O5)(BCB) addition on sintering,microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of Li2MgTi3O8 ceramics were investigated using X-ray diffractometry,scanning electron microscopy and microwave dielectric measurements,The experimental results show that a small amount of BaCu(B2O5) addition can effectively reduce the sintering temperature to 900 °C,and induce only a limited degradation of the microwave dielectric properties.Typically,the best microwave dielectric properties of εr=24.5,Q×f =24 622 GHz,τf=4.2×10?6 °C ?1 are obtained for 1.0% BCB-doped Li2MgTi3O8 ceramics sintered at 900 °C for 3 h.The BCB-doped Li2MgTi3O8 ceramics can be compatible with Ag electrode,which may be a strong candidate for low temperature co-fired ceramics applications.

Microwave sintering of Ca_(0.6)La_(0.2667)TiO_3 microwave dielectric ceramics

Ca0.6La0.2667TiO3 ceramics were prepared by conventional and microwave sintering techniques and their sinterability, microstructure, and microwave dielectric properties were investigated in detail for comparison. Densified Ca0.6La0.E667TiO3 ceramics were obtained by microwave sintering at 1350℃ for 30 min and by conventional sintering at 1450℃ for 4 h. An unusual phenomenon was found that some larger grains （grain size range： 8-10 pan） inclined to assemble in one area but some smaller ones （grain size range： 2-4 μm） inclined to gather in another area in the microwave sintered ceramics. The microwave dielectric properties of Ca0.6La0.2667TiO3 ceramics prepared by micro- wave sintering at 1350℃ were as follows＂ dielectric constant （er） = 119.6, quality factor （Qf） = 17858.5 GHz, and temperature coefficient of resonant fi＇equency （rf）= 155.5 ppm/℃. In contrast, the microwave dielectric properties of the ceramics prepared by conventional sintering at 1450℃ were er = 117.4, Qf= 13375 GHz, and rf= 217.2 ppm/℃.

Low-Temperature Sintering and Microwave DielectricProperties of Ba_2Ti_3Nb_4O_(18) Ceramics

The effects of CuO and H3BO3 additions on the low-temperature sintering,microstructure,and microwave dielectric properties of Ba2Ti3Nb4O18 ceramics were investigated.The addition of less amount of CuO （ 〈1 wt%） considerably facilitated the densification of Ba2Ti3Nb4O18 ceramics.Appropriate addition of H3BO3 （ 〈3.5 wt%） remarkably improved the microwave dielectric properties of ceramics.The addition of H3BO3 and CuO successfully reduced the sintering temperature of Ba2Ti3Nb4O18 ceramics from 1300 to 1050 ℃.Ba2Ti3Nb4O18 ceramics sintered at 1 050 ℃ for 4 h with the addition of 1.0 wt% CuO and 3.5 wt% H3BO3 exhibited good microwave dielectric properties：er=33.74,Q？f=13 812 GHz,and tf=-5.35 ppm/°C at about 5.0 GHz.

RESEARCH ON MICROWAVE SINTERING ALUMINA CERAMICS

This paper introduces the characteristic of microwave sintering,introduces and analyses the process of microwave sintering of thealumina ceramics, moreover, compared with the experiments ofconventional sintering method. Based on the research, some resultsare obtained, and experimental basis for microwave sintering ofceramics is put forward.

Improved microwave dielectric properties of MgAl_(2)O_(4)spinel ceramics through(Li_(1/3)Ti_(2/3))^(3+)doping

A series of nominal compositions MgAl_(2-x)(Li_(1/3)Ti_(2/3))_(x)O_(4)(x=0,0.04,0.08,0.12,0.16,and 0.20)ceramics were successfully prepared via the conventional solid-state reaction route.The phase compositions,microstructures,and microwave dielectric properties were investigated.The results of x-ray diffraction(XRD)and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)showed that a single phase of MgAl_(2-x)(Li_(1/3)Ti_(2/3))_(x)O_(4)ceramics with a spinel structure was obtained at x≤0.12,whereas the second phase of MgTi_(2)O_(5)appeared when x>0.12.The cell parameters were obtained by XRD refinement.As the x values increased,the unit cell volume kept expanding.This phenomenon could be attributed to the partial substitution of(Li_(1/3)Ti_(2/3))^(3+)for Al^(3+).Results showed that(Li_(1/3)Ti_(2/3))^(3+)doping into MgAl_(2)O_(4)spinel ceramics effectively reduced the sintering temperature and improved the quality factor(Q_f)values.Good microwave dielectric properties were achieved for a sample at x=0.20 sintering at 1500℃in air for 4 h:dielectric constantε_(r)=8.78,temperature coefficient of resonant frequencyτ_(f)=-85 ppm/℃,and Q_(f)=62300 GHz.The Q_(f)value of the x=0.20 sample was about 2 times higher than that of pure MgAl_(2)O_(4)ceramics(31600 GHz).Thus,MgAl_(2-x)(Li_(1/3)Ti_(2/3))_(x)O_(4)ceramics with excellent microwave dielectric properties can be applied to 5G communications.

Spark plasma and microwave sintering of Al6061 and Al2124 alloys

Despite the importance of aluminum alloys as candidate materials for applications in aerospace and automotive industries, very little work has been published on spark plasma and microwave processing of aluminum alloys. In the present work, the possibility was explored to process A12124 and A16061 alloys by spark plasma and microwave sintering techniques, and the microstructures and properties were compared. The alloys were sintered for 20 rain at 400, 450, and 500℃. It is found that compared to microwave sintering, spark plasma sintering is an effective way to obtain homogenous, dense, and hard alloys. Fully dense （100%） A16061 and A12124 alloys were obtained by spark plasma sintering for 20 rain at 450 and 500℃, respectively. Maximum relative densities were achieved for A16061 （92.52%） and A12124 （93.52%） alloys by microwave sintering at 500℃for 20 min. The Vickers microhardness of spark plasma sintered samples increases with the increase of sintering temperature from 400 to 500℃, and reaches the values of Hv 70.16 and Hv 117.10 for A16061 and A12124 alloys, respectively. For microwave siutered samples, the microhardness increases with the increase of sintering temperature from 400 to 450℃, and then decreases with the further increase of sintering temperature to 500~C.

Sintering Behavior and Microwave Dielectric Properties of BBSZL Glass-doped ZnTiO_3 Ceramics for LTCC Applications

A novel low temperature co-fired ceramic(LTCC) material was fabricated by zinc titanate(ZnTiO_3) ceramics doped with B_2O_3-BaO-SiO_2-ZnO-Li_2O(BBSZL) glass. The influences of BBSZL glass on wetting behavior, sintering activation energy, phase composition, microstructure and microwave dielectric properties were investigated. The experimental results show that the sintering temperature of ZnTiO3 ceramics can be reduced from 1 100 to 925 ℃, meanwhile the sintering activation energy is decreased from 465.32 to 390.54 kJ·mol^(-1) by BBSZL glass aid, respectively. Moreover, BBSZL glass can inhibit the high Q×f ZnTiO_3 phase decompose into the low Q×f value Zn_2TiO_4 phase, which is propitious to obtain high Q×f value LTCC material. The ZnTiO_3-BBSZL composite sintered at 925℃ displays the excellent microwave dielectric properties with ε_r of 21.8, Q×f value of 42000 GHz, and τ_f of-75 ppm·℃^(-1).

Comparative Study on Conventional Sintering with Microwave Sintering and Vacuum Sintering of Y2O3-Al2O3-ZrO2 Ceramics

The present investigation demonstrated the comparative studies carried out on conventional, microwave and vacuum sintering of alumina added yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ). The conventional, microwave and vacuum sintered specimens were characterized by density measurement, XRD, SEM with EDX analysis and hardness evaluation. Microwave sintering was proved to be the best efficient sintering technique with respect to energy and time savings. Enhanced densification was observed for the microwave and vacuum sintered specimens at lower temperatures compared to the conventionally sintered ones. Further, it was observed that the particle size had significant influence on the enhancement of densification. The microwave sintered specimen showed the highest hardness compared to conventional and vacuum sintered specimens.

Microstructure and properties of Y_2O_3-doped steel-cemented WC prepared by microwave sintering

Steel-cemented WC was prepared by ball milling, cold compacting and microwave sintering with Fe powder as the matrix, WC as the hard phase and the addition of rare earth Y2O3. The results show that the interface of the WC particles and Fe matrix exhibits excellent wettability and liquidity when the microwave sintering temperature reaches 1,280℃. The density and mechanical properties of the steel bonded WC carbides could be greatly improved, the hard phases become finer and more uniform dispersed owing to the addition of Y2O3. With the increase of the Y2O3 contents, the grain becomes uniform and fine first, and then gathers and grows up. The relative density, microhardness and bending strength all rise first, reaching the maximum values of 97.29 %, HV1024 and 1,267.60 MPa at 0.5 % Y2O3, respectively, and then decrease. Moreover, the relative density and mechanical properties of the steel-cemented WC with nano-Y2O3 are higher than that with micron-Y2O3, which indicates that the effect of nano-Y2O3 is better than that of the micron-Y2O3.

Preparation and properties of ultra-fine TiCN matrix cermets by vacuum microwave sintering

Ultra-fine titanium carbonitride （TiCN） matrix materials with a grain size less than 1μm were successfully prepared by vacuum microwave sintering. The milling process for raw TiCN particles and the microstructure and properties of cermets produced with a composition of 15wt.%WC-17wt.%（Co＋Ni）-9wt.%Mo2C-59wt.%Ti0.TN0.3 and sintered by vacuum microwave were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The results show that a ball-to-powder mass ratio of 8：1 and a milling time of 50 h provided appropriate conditions for the production of ultra-fine TiCN solid solution powders. The use of vacuum microwave sintering produced cermets with much finer grain and black core structures and higher relative density and hardness than those produced by vacuum sintering technology.

Study on BaO-Sm_2O_3-TiO_2 Microwave Dielectric Ceramics Doped with Bismuth and Zinc

BaO-Sm2O3-TiO2 microwave dielectric ceramics doped with Bi and Zn was studied. The experiment was based on BST microwave dielectric ceramics doped with Bi2O3, which is shown by Ba4(Sm1-yBiy )28/3Ti18O54. When y =0.15, ZnO was added and the effects of ZnO on this system were studied. The result shows that the dielectric characteristics of BST microwave dielectric ceramics are the most excellent when the content of ZnO is 3% , and the optimal sintering temperature is 1200℃.

Effects of Phosphorus Additions on Microwave Sintering Properties of Uitrafine WC-10Co Cemented Carbides

Using the microwave sintering technology, the effects of phosphorus （P） additions on the microstructure and properties of the ultrafine WC-10Co alloys were investigated. The experimental results show that with only 0.3wt% P additions, full density WC-10Co cermets were obtained at temperature of 1250℃, which is 70 ℃ lower than that of the undoped counterparts. Lower sintering temperature can result in finer WC grain growth; therefore, the P-doped WC-10Co alloys exhibited higher hardness than the undoped ones. But at the same time, P doping could lead to sacrifice of fracture toughness ofWC-10Co cemented carbides.

Low-firing and temperature stability regulation of tri-rutile MgTa_(2)O_(6)microwave dielectric ceramics

A glass frit containing Li_(2)O-MgO-ZnO-B_(2)O_(3)-SiO_(2)component was used to explore the low-temperature sintering behaviors and microwave dielectric characteristics of tri-rutile MgTa_(2)O_(6)ceramics in this study.The good low-firing effects are presented due to the high matching relevance between Li_(2)O-MgO-ZnO-B_(2)O_(3)-SiO_(2)glass and MgTa_(2)O_(6)ceramics.The pure tri-rutile MgTa_(2)O_(6)structure remains unchanged,and high sintering compactness can also be achieved at 1150℃.We found that the Li_(2)O-MgO-ZnO-B_(2)O_(3)-SiO_(2)glass not only greatly improves the low-temperature sintering characteristics of MgTa_(2)O_(6)ceramics but also maintains a high(quality factor(Q)×resonance frequency(f))value while still improving the temperature stability.Typically,great microwave dielectric characteristics when added with 2wt%Li_(2)O-MgO-ZnO-B_(2)O_(3)-SiO_(2)glass can be achieved at 1150℃:dielectric constant,ε_(r)=26.1;Q×f=34267 GHz;temperature coefficient of resonance frequency,τ_(f)=-8.7×10^(-6)/℃.

Microwave Sintering of Al_2O_3-ZrO_2-WC-Co Cermets

Composite powders of nanocrystalline WC-10Co （15wt%）,Y2O3 （8mol%） stabilized nanocrystalline ZrO2 （30wt%）,industrial cobalt powder （4.5wt%） and submicron Al2O3 （55wt%） composite powders were fabricated by high-energy ball-milling process.The nanocomposite powders were consolidated by microwave sintering process at temperature ranged 1300℃-1550℃ for 15min,respectively.The optimum consolidation conditions,such as temperature,were researched during microwave sintering process.Vickers Hardness of the consolidated cermets was measured by using a Vickers indentation test,and density of specimens was also determined by Archimedes＇ principle.Microwave sintering process could not only increase the density of Al2O3-ZrO2-WC-Co cermets and reduce the porosity,but also inhibit abnormal grain growth.

Preparation of Porous Mullite Composite by Microwave Sintering

Microwave sintering method was carried out to prepare porous mullite composite. An insulation structure based on hybrid heating mode was well designed with the wall of mullite and the aided heaters of SiC. The obtained samples were characterized by XRD analysis, apparent porosity detection, and bending strength measurement. SEM was used to observe the microstructure of the sample. It is found that the porous mullite composite could be prepared through the microwave sintering within 2 h at relatively low temperatures around 1000 ℃. The lasted samples show comparatively superior properties to the products prepared by conventional processing.

Microwave Sintering of W-15Cu Ultrafine Composite Powder Prepared by Spray Drying & Calcining-continuous Reduction Technology

The effects of microwave sintering and conventional H2 sintering on the microstructure and properties of W-15Cu alloy using ultrafine W-15Cu composite powder fabricated by spray drying ＆ calcining-continuous reduction technology were investigated. In comparison to the conventional HE sintering processing, microwave sintering to W-15Cu can be achieved at lower sintering temperature and shorter sintering time. Furthermore, higher performances in microwave sintered compacts were obtained, but high microwave sintering temperature or long microwave sintering time could result in coarser microstructures.

Preparation of Gd_2O_2S:Pr Scintillation Ceramics by Pressureless Reaction Sintering Method

Fabrication of Gd2O2S：Pr scintillation ceramics by 2Gd2O3.（Gd,Pr）2（SO4）3.mH2O precursor was made Gd2O3, Pr6O11 and H2SO4 as the starting materials pressureless reaction sintering was investigated. The by hydrothermal reaction using commercially available Then single phase Gd2O2SO4：Pr powder was obtained by calcining the precursor at 750℃ for 2 h. The Gd2O2SO4：Pr powder compacts can be sintered to single phase Gd2O2S：Pr ceramics with a relative density of 99% and mean grain size of 30um at 1750℃ for 2 h in flowing hydrogen atmosphere. Densification and microstructural development of the Gd2O2S：Pr ceramics were examined. Luminescence spectra of the Gd2O2S：Pr ceramic under 309 nm UV excitation and X-ray excitation show a green emission at 511 nm as the most prominent peak, which corresponds to the ^3p0-3H4 transition of Pr^3＋ ions.

Preparation and Microstructure of Porous ZrB_2 Ceramics Using Reactive Spark Plasma Sintering Method

Zirconium oxide （ZrO：） and boron carbide （B4C） were added to ZrB2 raw powders to prepare ZrB2 porous ceramics by reactive spark plasma sintering （RSPS）. The reactions between ZrO2 and B,C which produce ZrB2 and gas （such as CO and B2O3） result in pore formation. X-Ray Diffraction results indicated that the products phase was ZrB2 and the reaction was completed after the RSPS process. The porosity could be controlled by changing the ratio of synthesized ZrB2 to raw ZrB2 powders. The porosity of porous ceramics with 20 wt% and 40 wt% synthsized ZrB2 are 0.185 and 0.222, respectivly. And dense ZrB：SiC ceramic with a porosity of 0.057 was prepared under the same conditions for comparison. The pores were homogeneously distributed within the microstructure of the porous ceramics. The results indicate a promising method for preparing porous ZrB：based ceramics.

Preparation of ZrN(ZrON)-SiAION Composite Ceramics via a Pressureless Sintering Process

ZrN-SiAlON composite materials were synthesized at 1 550 ℃ for 6 h via a carbothermal reduction nitridation route using fly ash （≤74 μm）,zircon （≤ 44 μm） and active carbon as starting materials.The processed ZrN-SiAlON composite micropowders were mixed with polyvinyl alcohol as binder to prepare ZrN （ZrON）-SiAlON composite ceramics by carbon-embedded pressureless firing at 1 450,1 500 and 1 550 ℃ for 1 h,respectively.Influences of firing temperature on the phase compositions,microstructure and sintering properties of the ceramics were investigated.The results show that：（1） β-SiAlON based composite ceramics with different compositions can be prepared by controlling firing temperature,and the main crystalline phases of the specimen fired at 1 550 ℃ for 1 h involve ZrN,ZrON and β-SiAlON （z =2,Si4Al2O2N6）; （2） ZrN （ZrON）,β-SiAlON and a Fe-Si based compound can be observed in the microstructures of the specimens fired at different temperatures.ZrN （ZrON） particles distribute homogeneously in the β-SiAlON matrix; （3） raising firing temperature can increase the shrinkage ratio of the ceramics,and the volume shrinkage ratio increases from 19.4％ to 40.3％ when the firing temperature rises from 1 450 to 1 550 ℃.