Effect of starting materials on the properties of solid-state reacted barium titanate powder

This study examined the effects of the combination of starting materials on the properties of solid-state reacted BaTiO3 using two different types of BaCO3 and TiO2. The reaction temperature was evaluated by thermal gravimetry/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA). In addition, the effect of mechanochemical activation by high energy milling and the Ba/Ti molar ratio on the reaction temperature, particle size and tetragonality were investigated. TG/DTA demonstrated that the TiO2 phase and size plays a major role in decreasing the reaction temperature and particle size. With the optimum selection of starting materials and processing conditions, BaTiO3 with a particle size < 200 nm and a tetragonatity (= c/a) of approximately 1.008 was obtained.