Abstract: A dielectric composition, particularly suitable for the manufacture of ceramic capacitors, comprising lead magnesium niobate and lead zinc niobate. These may be additives, such as one or more oxide additives chosen from the group comprising silica, manganese dioxide, zinc oxide, nickel oxide, alumina, ceric oxide, lanthanum oxide and tungsten oxide, gallium oxide, titanium dioxide and lead oxide, or additives such as bismuth stannate. The compositions can be fired at temperatures between 980.degree. and 1075.degree. C. so that in the case of multilayer ceramic capacitors high silver content internal electrodes can be used. Higher dielectric constants, for example 9000 to 16,300, of the fired ceramics than conventional ceramics are obtained, thus permitting capacitor device size reduction.

Abstract: A dielectric composition, particular suitable for the manufacture of ceramic capacitors, comprising non-stoichiometric lead magnesium niobate, non-stoichiometric lead iron niobate and one or more oxide additives, which may be chosen from the group comprising silica, managanese dioxide, ceric oxide, lanthanum oxide, zinc oxide, alumina, tungsten oxide, nickel oxide, cobalt oxide and cuprous oxide. The compositions can be fired at temperatures between 980.degree. and 1075.degree. C., so that in the case of multilayer ceramic capacitors high silver content internal electrodes can be used and, in cases where three or more of the oxide additives are employed, higher dielectric constants, for example 10600 to 16800, of the fired ceramics than conventional ceramics can be achieved, thus permitting capacitor device size reduction. Additions of lead titanate may also be made to the dielectric compositions.

Abstract: A dielectric composition which is particularly suitable for the manufacture of ceramic capacitors, comprises lead magnesium niobate with additions of one or more lead titanate, lead stannate, or lead zirconate. The composition can be fired at a temperature between 950.degree. and 1100.degree. C., which is lower than the conventional firing temperatures of 1200.degree. to 1400.degree. C. The lower firing temperature means that, in the case of multilayer ceramic capacitors, the internal electrodes can be made of cheaper materials than previously with resultant materials and process cost savings. Some of the compositions exhibit higher dielectric constants than conventional Z5U ceramics, which means that capacitor device size can also be reduced.