Eur. Phys. J. B (2015) 88: 277
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2015-60460-3

Regular Article

Preparation and dielectric properties of the lead-free BaFe_1/2Nb_1/2O₃ ceramics obtained from mechanically triggered powder^*

¹ University of Silesia, Institute of Technology and Mechatronics, 12, Żytnia St., 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
² Poznan University of Technology, Institute of Material Science and Engineering, 5, M.Skłodowskiej-Curie Sq., 60-965 Poznań, Poland

^a e-mail: dariusz.bochenek@us.edu.pl

Received: 11 June 2015
Received in final form: 24 July 2015
Published online: 26 October 2015

Abstract

In the paper the influence of mechanical activation of the powder on the final dielectric properties lead-free Ba(Fe_1/2Nb_1/2)O₃ (BFN) ceramic was examined. The BFN ceramics were obtained by 3-steps route. Firstly, the substrates were pre-homogenized in a planetary ball mill. Than, the powder was activated in vibratory mill (the shaker type SPEX 8000 Mixer Mill) for different duration between 25 h and 100 h. The influence of the milling time on the BFN powder was monitored by X-ray diffraction. The diffraction data confirmed that the milling process of the starting components is accompanied by partial synthesis of the BFN materials. The longer of the high-energy milling duration the powders results in increasing the amount of amorphous/nanocrystalline content. The mechanically activated materials were sintered in order to obtain the ceramic samples. During this temperature treatment the final crystallisation of the powder appeared what was confirmed by XRD studies. The performed dielectric measurements have revealed the reduction of the dielectric loss of the BFN ceramics compared to materials obtained by classic methods.