On the discontinuous grain growth of SrxBa1-xNb2O6 ceramics

Strontium barium niobate powders with various compositions have been milled and annealed at a low temperature, 1000°C. It was found that powders of SrxBa1−xNb206 with x>40 were partially decomposed and the higher the Sr/Ba ratio, the more they decomposed. It was also found that pre-treatment at or higher than complete formation temperature could prevent discontinuous grain growth by evading the development of liquid phase. The possible reasons for the development of liquid phase and discontinuous grain growth are proposed.