The Effect of Using Microwave Synthesized ZnNb2O6 Powders on the Dielectric Properties of Sintered Products
In this study ZnNb2O6 (ZN) powder, which was synthesized using a microwave heating method, was used to prepare ZN ceramics via conventional and microwave sintering methods. The results show that all samples were single phase with no second phases present. The maximum densities obtained for microwave and conventionally sintered samples were 94.6% and 93.8%, respectively, of the theoretical value at 1250°C. SEM analysis showed that for all sintering temperatures, microwave sintered samples exhibit lower grain size values than those sintered via the conventional method. The variations in relative permittivity (εr) for samples sintered at different temperatures via both methods followed those of density values. The highest values for εr for conventionally and microwave sintered samples, which were observed at 1250°C, were 22.9 and 23.1, respectively. The variation of quality factor (Q × f) with sintering temperature for samples prepared through the microwave method also followed the density data. Q × f values of samples sintered via the conventional method were higher than those for samples sintered in a microwave oven because higher grain sizes were observed for these ceramics. The highest Q × f values for conventionally and microwave sintered samples were 26,197 GHz and 16,200 GHz, respectively.