Fabrication of textured bismuth titanate by templated grain growth using aqueous tape casting

Textured bismuth titanate (Bi4Ti3O12) ceramics were fabricated by templated grain growth (TGG), using plate-like Bi4Ti3O12 particles prepared by a molten salt method as the templates. The templates were aligned in the fine-grained matrix by aqueous tape casting with their major surface parallel to the casting plane. Effect of sintering conditions on the grain orientation in the material was investigated. It was found that the degree of grain orientation (Lotgering factor, f) increased with the increase in sintering temperature, soaking time and heating rate. High Lotgering factor (f⩾0.92) can be obtained through careful control of the sintering parameters. The textured Bi4Ti3O12 ceramics showed a high anisotropy in its dielectric properties in the directions parallel and perpendicular to the casting plane.