Abstract: A dielectric ceramic formed by firing in a reducing atmosphere is provided. A multilayer ceramic capacitor formed by using the aforementioned dielectric ceramic has superior reliability even when the thicknesses of dielectric ceramic layers formed therefrom are reduced. The dielectric ceramic has crystal grains; and crystal boundaries and triple points, which are located between the crystal grains. The crystal grains contain perovskite compound grains composed of a perovskite compound represented by ABO3 (where A is Ba and Ca, or Ba, Ca and Sr; B is Ti, or Ti and a part thereof which is replaced with at least one of Zr and Hf) and crystal oxide grains composed of a crystal oxide containing at least Ba, Ti and Si, and about 80% or more of the number of the triple points each have a cross-sectional area of about 8 nm2 or less.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic includes a principal component which contains Ba, Ca and Ti and which has a perovskite structure represented by the general formula ABO3; additive components containing, for example, La and Mn; and a sintering aid, wherein crystal grains of the dielectric ceramic contain Ca, and the intergranular variation in the average Ca concentration within each grain is about 5% or more, in terms of CV value, or the ratio of the number of crystal grains in which the intragranular variation in the Ca concentration is about 5% or more, in terms of CV value, to the total number of crystal grains containing Ca is about 10% or more. A monolithic ceramic capacitor fabricated using the dielectric ceramic is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic includes, in composition, a perovskite-type compound having the general formula ABO3 containing Ba, Ca and Ti, and an additive component containing Si, R(La or the like), and M (Mn or the like), the additive component not being solid-dissolved and, moreover, the major component existing in at least 90% of the cross-section of each of the crystal grains of which the number is equal to at least 85% of that of all of the crystal grains contained in the dielectric ceramic, at least the Ba, the Ca, the Ti, the Si, the R, and the M being contained at at least 85% of the analytical points in the crystal grain boundaries of the dielectric ceramic.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic is composed of ABO3 as the main component and a rare earth element, wherein A represents barium which may be partly replaced with at least one of calcium and strontium, and B represents titanium which may be partly replaced with at least one selected from zirconium and hafnium. At least 70% of crystal grains of the dielectric ceramic have a cross-section in which a first region containing dissolved rare earth element occupies 5 to 70% of the area of the cross section and a second region free of the dissolved rare earth element occupies 10 to 80% of the periphery of the cross-section. A monolithic ceramic capacitor having thin dielectric ceramic layers composed of this dielectric ceramic exhibits superior capacitance-temperature characteristics and high reliability.

Abstract: A non-reducing dielectric ceramic contains Ca, Zr and Ti as metallic elements and does not contain Pb. In a CuK&agr; X-ray diffraction pattern, the ratio of the maximum peak intensity of secondary crystal phases to the maximum peak intensity at 2&thgr;=25° to 35° of a perovskite primary crystal phase is about 12% or less, the secondary crystal phases including all the crystal phases other than the perovskite primary crystal phase. The non-reducing dielectric ceramic exhibits superior insulating resistance and dielectric loss after firing in a neutral or reducing atmosphere and high reliability in a high-temperature loading lifetime test and is useful for producing compact high-capacitance monolithic ceramic capacitors.

Abstract: A non-reducing dielectric ceramic contains Ca, Zr and Ti as metallic elements and does not contain Pb. In a CuK&agr; X-ray diffraction pattern, the ratio of the maximum peak intensity of secondary crystal phases to the maximum peak intensity at 2&thgr;=25° to 35° of a perovskite primary crystal phase is about 12% or less, the secondary crystal phases including all the crystal phases other than the perovskite primary crystal phase. The non-reducing dielectric ceramic exhibits superior insulating resistance and dielectric loss after firing in a neutral or reducing atmosphere and high reliability in a high-temperature loading lifetime test and is useful for producing compact high-capacitance monolithic ceramic capacitors.

Abstract: Provided is a dielectric ceramic composition suitably used for forming dielectric ceramic layers which constitute a laminated ceramic capacitor obtained by firing in a reducing atmosphere. Even when the dielectric ceramic composition is formed into thin dielectric ceramic layers, a highly reliable laminated ceramic capacitor having a small temperature coefficient of capacitance, a long lifetime under high temperature and high pressure conditions, and a small change in electrostatic capacitance with time under a DC voltage application can be realized. The dielectric ceramic composition contains a primary component, an additive component, and an auxiliary sintering agent, wherein the primary component and the additive component are represented by the formula 100BaTiO3+a{(1−b)R+bV}+cM, and 1.25≦a≦8.0, 0<b≦0.2, 1.0<c≦6.0, and a/c>1.1 are satisfied.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic includes ABO3 as a major component and R and M as accessory components, where A is at least one of Ba, Sr and Ca; B is at least one of Ti, Zr and Hf; R is at least one of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and Y; and M is at least one of Ni, Co, Fe, Cr and Mn. The dielectric ceramic contains the components R and M at about 70% or more of analysis points in grain boundaries. This dielectric ceramic is suitable for use in dielectric ceramic layers of a multilayer ceramic capacitor obtained by firing in a reducing atmosphere, has a long life at high temperatures and high voltages, exhibits less time-dependent change in electrostatic capacity under application of a direct-current voltage and has satisfactory reliability even when its thickness is reduced.

Abstract: A non-reducing dielectric ceramic contains Ca, Zr and Ti as metallic elements and does not contain Pb. In a CuK&agr; X-ray diffraction pattern, the ratio of the maximum peak intensity of secondary crystal phases to the maximum peak intensity at 2&thgr;=25° to 35° of a perovskite primary crystal phase is about 12% or less, the secondary crystal phases including all the crystal phases other than the perovskite primary crystal phase. The non-reducing dielectric ceramic exhibits superior insulating resistance and dielectric loss after firing in a neutral or reducing atmosphere and high reliability in a high-temperature loading lifetime test and is useful for producing compact high-capacitance monolithic ceramic capacitors.

Abstract: A conductive paste contains a ceramic powder in addition to a conductive metal powder and an organic vehicle. The ceramic powder is a powder produced by calcining an ABO3 system in which A represents Ba or alternatively Ba partially substituted by at least one of Ca and Sr, and B represents Ti or alternatively Ti partially substituted by at least one of Zr and Hf, the system containing at least one selected from the group of consisting of Re compounds (La or the like), Mg compounds, and Mn compounds. The ceramic powder has an average grain size smaller than that of the metal powder and being incapable of sintering at the sintering temperature of the substrate-use ceramic.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic has a ceramic structure of crystal grains and grain boundaries between the crystal grains. The crystal grains are of a main component represented by the formula ABO3 and an additive containing a rare earth element wherein A is at least one of barium, calcium, and strontium, barium being an essential element, and B is at least one of titanium, zirconium, and hafnium, titanium being an essential element. The average rare earth element concentration in the interior of the crystal grains is about 50% or less the average rare earth element concentration at the grain boundaries. Furthermore, about 20% to 70% of the crystal grains have a rare earth element concentration in the center of the crystal grain of at least about {fraction (1/50)} the maximum rare earth element concentration in a region extending inward from the surface by a distance corresponding to about 5% of the diameter of the crystal grain.

Abstract: A conductive paste contains a ceramic powder in addition to a conductive metal powder and an organic vehicle. The ceramic powder is a powder produced by calcining an ABO3 system in which A represents Ba or alternatively Ba partially substituted by at least one of Ca and Sr, and B represents Ti or alternatively Ti partially substituted by at least one of Zr and Hf, the system containing at least one selected from the group of consisting of Re compounds (La or the like), Mg compounds, and Mn compounds. The ceramic powder has an average grain size smaller than that of the metal powder and being incapable of sintering at the sintering temperature of the substrate-use ceramic.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic has a ceramic structure of crystal grains and grain boundaries between the crystal grains. The crystal grains are of a main component represented by the formula ABO3 and an additive containing a rare earth element wherein A is at least one of barium, calcium, and strontium, barium being an essential element, and B is at least one of titanium, zirconium, and hafnium, titanium being an essential element. The average rare earth element concentration in the interior of the crystal grains is about 50% or less the average rare earth element concentration at the grain boundaries. Furthermore, about 20% to 70% of the crystal grains have a rare earth element concentration in the center of the crystal grain of at least about {fraction (1/50)} the maximum rare earth element concentration in a region extending inward from the surface by a distance corresponding to about 5% of the diameter of the crystal grain.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic has a ceramic structure of crystal grains and grain boundaries between the crystal grains. The crystal grains are of a main component represented by the formula ABO3 and an additive containing a rare earth element wherein A is at least one of barium, calcium, and strontium, barium being an essential element, and B is at least one of titanium, zirconium, and hafnium, titanium being an essential element. The average rare earth element concentration in the interior of the crystal grains is about 50% or less the average rare earth element concentration at the grain boundaries. Furthermore, about 20% to 70% of the crystal grains have a rare earth element concentration in the center of the crystal grain of at least about {fraction (1/50)} the maximum rare earth element concentration in a region extending inward from the surface by a distance corresponding to about 5% of the diameter of the crystal grain.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic compact is provided which can decrease loss and heat generation under high frequency and high voltage or large current conditions, which exhibits a stable insulating resistance by AC or DC loading, and which can form a laminated ceramic capacitor using nickel or the like as an internal electrode material. The reduction-resistant dielectric ceramic compact is formed of an auxiliary sintering agent and a solid solution containing barium titanate as a primary component represented by the formula ABO3+aR+bM, where R is a compound containing an element such as La, and M is a compound containing an element such as Mn. In addition, 1.000<A/B≦1.035, 0.005≦a≦0.12, and 0.005≦b≦0.12. Furthermore, in the ceramic, the crystalline axis ratio c/a obtained by x-ray diffraction in a temperature range of −25° C. or above satisfies 1.000≦c/a≦1.

Abstract: A monolithic ceramic capacitor includes a plurality of dielectric ceramic layers, a plurality of inner electrodes formed between the dielectric ceramic layers in such a manner that one end of each inner electrode is exposed out of either end of the dielectric ceramic layers, and outer electrodes electrically connected with the exposed inner electrodes; in which the inner electrodes each are made of a base metal, and Si oxide layers or layers comprising an Si oxide and at lest one component that constitutes said dielectric ceramic layers and said inner electrodes are formed adjacent to the inner electrodes. The capacitor has excellent thermal impact resistance and wet load resistance characteristics. A producing method includes firing a green sheet laminate including a metal inner electrode at an oxygen partial pressure of about said equilibrium oxygen partial pressure of the metal to the metal oxide.

Abstract: Provided is a dielectric ceramic composition suitably used for forming dielectric ceramic layers which constitute a laminated ceramic capacitor obtained by firing in a reducing atmosphere. Even when the dielectric ceramic composition is formed into thin dielectric ceramic layers, a highly reliable laminated ceramic capacitor having a small temperature coefficient of capacitance, a long lifetime under high temperature and high pressure conditions, and a small change in electrostatic capacitance with time under a DC voltage application can be realized. The dielectric ceramic composition contains a primary component, an additive component, and an auxiliary sintering agent, wherein the primary component and the additive component are represented by the formula 100BaTiO3+a{(1−b)R+bV}+cM, and 1.25≦a≦8.0, 0<b≦0.2, 1.0<c≦6.0, and a/c>1.1 are satisfied.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic includes ABO3 as a major component and R and M as accessory components, where A is at least one of Ba, Sr and Ca; B is at least one of Ti, Zr and Hf; R is at least one of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and Y; and M is at least one of Ni, Co, Fe, Cr and Mn. The dielectric ceramic contains the components R and M at about 70% or more of analysis points in grain boundaries. This dielectric ceramic is suitable for use in dielectric ceramic layers of a multilayer ceramic capacitor obtained by firing in a reducing atmosphere, has a long life at high temperatures and high voltages, exhibits less time-dependent change in electrostatic capacity under application of a direct-current voltage and has satisfactory reliability even when its thickness is reduced.

Abstract: A nonreducing dielectric contains a main-component having a perovskite crystal phase and satisfying the formula (Ca1-a-b-cSraBabMgc)m(Zr1-w-x-y-zTiwMnxNiyHfz)O3 and a compound oxide represented by the formulae (Si, T)O2—MO—XO and (Si, T)O2—(Mn, M′)O—Al2O3. The ratio of the intensity of the maximum peak of a crystal phase not of the perovskite crystal phase to the intensity of the maximum peak assigned to the perovskite crystal phase appearing at 2&thgr;=25 to 35° is about 5% or less in a CuK&agr; X-ray diffraction pattern.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic composition comprises 100 parts by weight of a primary constituent, about 0.1 to 25 parts by weight of a first secondary constituent comprising a SiO2-based glass not containing lead oxide, and about 20 parts by weight or less of a second secondary constituent comprising manganese oxide (MnO). The primary constituent is represented by the formula x(Ba&agr;Ca&bgr;Sr&ggr;)O-y[(TiO2)1−m(ZrO2)m]-zRe2O3 wherein x+y+z=100 on a molar basis, &agr;+&bgr;+&ggr;=1, 0≦&bgr;+&ggr;≦0.8, 0<m<0.15, and Re is at least one rare earth element. The mole fraction (x, y, z) of (Ba&agr;Ca&bgr;Sr&ggr;)O, (TiO2)1−m(ZrO2)m, and Re2O3 lies within a range surrounded by points in a ternary diagram, depending on the content of the ceramic capacitors. The dielectric ceramic composition can be sintered at low temperatures and exhibits a high specific dielectric constant and a high Q value.