Microwave dielectric properties and its compatibility with silver electrode of Li2MgTi3O8 ceramics

The effects of BaCu(B2O5) (BCB) additions on the sintering temperature and microwave dielectric properties of Li2MgTi3O8 ceramic have been investigated. The pure Li2MgTi3O8 ceramic shows a relative high sintering temperature (similar to 1000 degrees C) and good microwave dielectric properties as Qxf of 40,000 GHz, epsilon(r) of 27.2, tau(f) of 2.6 ppm/degrees C. It was found that the addition of a small amount of BCB can effectively lower the sintering temperature of Li2MgTi3O8 ceramics from 1025 to 900 degrees C and induce no obvious degradation of the microwave dielectric properties. Typically, the 0.5 wt% BCB added Li2MgTi3O8 ceramic sintered at 900 degrees C for 2 h exhibited good microwave dielectric properties of Qxf=36,200GHz (f=7.31 GHz), epsilon(r)=26 and tau(f)=-2 ppm/degrees C. Compatibility with Ag electrode indicates this material can be applied to low temperature-cofired ceramics (LTCC) devices. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.