Influence of V₂O₅ additions to 0.8(Mg_0.95Zn_0.05)TiO₃-0.2Ca_0.61Nd_0.26TiO₃ ceramics on sintering behavior and microwave dielectric properties

The effects of additive sintering aids on the microstructures and microwave dielectric properties of 0.8(Mg_0.95Zn_0.05)TiO₃-0.2Ca_0.61Nd_0.26TiO₃ ceramics were investigated. V₂O₅ was selected as a liquid phase sintering aid to lower the sintering temperature of 0.8(Mg_0.95Zn_0.05)TiO₃-0.2Ca_0.61Nd_0.26TiO₃ ceramics. With added V₂O₅, the densification temperature of 0.8(Mg_0.95Zn_0.05)TiO₃-0.2Ca_0.61Nd_0.26TiO₃ can be effectively reduced from 1350 °C to 1175-1275 °C. Low-level doping of V₂O₅ (0.5-4 wt%) significantly improves the density and dielectric properties of 0.8(Mg_0.95Zn_0.05)TiO₃-0.2Ca_0.61Nd_0.26TiO₃ ceramics. The quality factor Q × f was strongly dependent upon the amount of additives. Q × f values of 46,100 and 14,700 GHz could be obtained at 1175-1275 °C with 0.5 and 4 wt% V₂O₅ added, respectively. Over all ranges of addition, the relative dielectric constants differed significantly and ranged from 20.6 to 26.5. The temperature coefficient varied from -14.9 to 8.91 ppm/ °C.