Abstract: A ceramic powder including ceramic main component particles and additive component particles deposited on the surfaces of the main component particles. The mean particle size of the main component particles is made not more than 1.5 ?m, and the mean particle size of the additive component particles is made not more than 0.31 ?m. The content of the additive composition particles is made 0.1 to 5 wt % with respect to 100 parts by weight of the ceramic powder. The dispersibility of the additive component particles with respect to the main component particles is improved and the uniformity of the structure is promoted to suppress the occurrence of hetero phases. A multilayer ceramic electronic device having a high insulation breakdown voltage and long life even with a thickness of the dielectric layers of not more than 3 ?m are provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ceramic film including crystallizing a material body including a complex oxide by performing heat treatment on the material body at a pressure of two atmospheres or more. The complex oxide includes lead (Pb) or bismuth (Bi). The material body is a mixture of a sol-gel material and a metallo-organic decomposition material in which at least Pb or Bi in the complex oxide is in an amount of at most 5 percent in excess of Pb or Bi in the stoichiometric composition.

Abstract: A nano-sized powder of barium titanate is compacted and sintered by spark plasma sintering under conditions creating a high heating rate to achieve a densified material that demonstrates superior permittivity.

Abstract: A method of production of a dielectric ceramic composition having at least a main component of Ba2TiO3, a second subcomponent including at least one compound selected from SiO2, MO (where M is at least one element selected from Ba, Ca, Sr, and Mg), Li2O, and B2O3, and other subcomponents, comprising the step of: mixing in said main component at least part of other subcomponents except for said second subcomponent to prepare a pre-calcination powder, calcining the pre-calcination powder to prepare a calcined powder, and mixing at least said second subcomponent in said calcined powder to obtain the dielectric ceramic composition having molar ratios of the subcomponents to the main component of predetermined ratios. As the other subcomponents, there is a third subcomponent including at least one compound selected from V2O5, MoO3, and WO3. A ratio of the third subcomponent to 100 moles of the main component is preferably 0.01 to 0.1 mole.

Abstract: A process for forming a thixotropic ink for use in manufacturing the ceramic of a zinc oxide varistor where the ceramic includes zinc, oxygen and a plurality of additive elements. The process includes the steps of calcining a mixture of powders of zinc oxide and the additive elements to form a calcined product having a particle size larger than the particle size of the zinc ozide powders, mixing said calcined product with an organic liquid, mechanically working the mixture to produce a calcined particulate material in the organic liquid having a particle size less than the particle size of said calcined product, adding an organic binder to the mixture and mixing the composition to produce said ink.

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 dielectric ceramic powder and multilayer ceramic capacitors made from the powders are disclosed. A dielectric start powder mixture includes at least ninety weight percent essentially pure barium titanate powder having an average particle size of from 0.2 to 1.2 microns; from 0.2 to 2.5 weight percent of barium lithium borosilicate; from 0.1 to 0.3 weight percent of MnCO3; 0.4 to 1.50 weight percent Nb205 or a niobate compound, or a molar equivalent of Ta2O5 or a tantalum compound as a grain growth inhibitor; and, 0.4 to 1.2 weight percent of gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3). The start powder mixture is calcined and then sintered in an open zirconia setter at from 950° C. to 1,025° C. to produce a dielectric ceramic body that satisfies X7R capacitor performance characteristics; that includes no hazardous heavy metal oxides; and, that may include silver-palladium electrodes having 85 weight percent or more of silver.

Abstract: The invention includes a dielectric ceramic powder mixture comprising at least ninety weight percent essentially pure barium titanate powder having an average particle size of from 0.2 to 1.2 microns; from 0.2 to 2.5 weight percent of barium lithium borosilicate flux; from 0.1 to 0.3 weight percent of MnCO3; a grain growth inhibitor such as niobium oxide or other niobate compound; and, 0.4 to 1.2 weight percent of an additive selected from the group consisting of a rare earth oxide, yttrium oxide, a combination of rare earth oxides, and a combination of yttrium oxide and rare earth oxides, such that ions of the additive(s) have an average ionic radius of about 0.97 angstroms. The dielectric ceramic powder provides a start powder for making very low firing multilayer ceramic capacitors satisfying X7R performance requirements.

Abstract: A method of producing a multilayer ceramic capacitor having internal electrode layers and dielectric layers with dielectric particles is disclosed. An average particle diameter of the dielectric particles, when measured parallel with the direction of the internal electrode layers, is larger than a thickness of the dielectric layer. A ratio (R/d) between the average particle diameter (R) and the thickness (d) of the dielectric layer is 1<R/d<3.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic composition comprising at least a main component containing a dielectric oxide of a composition expressed by {(Sr1−xCax)O}m.(Ti1−yZry)O2 and a fourth subcomponent containing an oxide of R (where R is at least one element selected from Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu), wherein the symbols m, x, and y showing the molar ratio of the composition in the formula contained in the main component are in relations of 0.94<m<1.02, 0≦x≦1.00, and 0≦y≦0.20 and the ratio of the fourth subcomponent with respect to 100 moles of the main component, which is converted to the R in the oxide, is 0.02 mole≦fourth subcomponent<2 moles. According to this dielectric ceramic composition, it is possible to obtain a superior resistance to reduction at the time of firing, obtain a superior capacity-temperature characteristic after firing, and improve the accelerated life of the insulation resistance.

Abstract: The present invention discloses dielectric ceramic compositions having dielectric properties suitable for high frequency bands, such as microwave and millimetric wave, and a method for manufacturing multilayered components, such as chip LC filters, chip duplexers, and dielectric filters for PCS, using the dielectric ceramic compositions. The dielectric ceramic composition not only possesses low dielectric loss, a high dielectric constant, and temperature stability, but are also capable of being sintered at low temperatures and simultaneously baked with metal electrodes, including silver, copper, silver/palladium. Therefore, the dielectric composition can be applied to temperature stable capacitors (NPO MLCC), microwave oscillators, substrates, filters, planar antenna and on the like. The dielectric composition are represented by the general formula: Ax′A1−x″By′B1−y″O4 where A′ and A″ are La, Nd, Y and Al; B′ and B″ are Nb and Ta.

Abstract: A ceramic green sheet is manufactured by preparing a support which includes a releasing layer formed on its top surface and has a smoothness that at least a region of the top surface of the support to be coated with a ceramic slurry has substantially no projections having a height of equal to or more than about 1 &mgr;m, and applying a ceramic slurry to the releasing layer of the support, which ceramic slurry contains a ceramic powder dispersed in a medium. This ceramic green sheet has a small thickness of, for example, about 0.3 to 3 &mgr;m, has no depressions or through holes caused by a filler in the support and is excellent in smoothness.

Abstract: A process for producing a monolithic ceramic electronic component, which includes: providing a ceramic slurry, a conductive paste, and a ceramic paste; forming a plurality of composite structures each comprising a ceramic green sheet produced by shaping the ceramic slurry, internal circuit element films formed by applying the conductive paste partially onto a main surface of the ceramic green sheet so as to provide step-like sections, and a ceramic green layer which compensates for spaces defined by the step-like sections, the ceramic green layer being formed by applying the ceramic paste onto the region on the main surface of the sheet on which the element films are not formed, so as to substantially compensate for the spaces; forming a green laminate by laminating the composite structures; and firing the green laminate, wherein the ceramic paste contains ceramic powder, an organic solvent, and an organic binder.

Abstract: An organic solvent-free process for deposition of metal oxide thin films is presented. The process includes aqueous solutions of necessary metal precursors and an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer. After a coating operation, the resultant coating is fired at high temperatures to yield optical quality metal oxide thin films.

Abstract: A multilayer ceramic capacitor comprises dielectric ceramic layers and conductive layers, the dielectric ceramic layers including core-shell structured ceramic particles. The ceramic particles disposed nearer to the conductive layers have shell portions having thickness larger than those of the ceramic particles disposed farther from the conductive layers.

Abstract: A method for producing a ceramic slurry used for fabricating a ceramic electronic component includes a mixing and pulverizing step for mixing and pulverizing a ceramic powder having an average particle size of about 0.01 to 1 &mgr;m, a solvent and a dispersant by a dispersion process using a pulverizing medium, such as balls or beads, to obtain a mixed and pulverized slurry; and a high pressure dispersion step for performing high pressure dispersion at a pressure of about 100 kg/cm2 or more after a filtered binder solution is added to the mixed and pulverized slurry to obtain a dispersed slurry (final dispersed slurry), the filtered binder solution being prepared by dissolving a binder in a solvent, followed by filtration. A method for forming a ceramic green sheet and a method for fabricating a monolithic ceramic electronic component using the ceramic slurry are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a dielectric ceramic composition comprising at least a main component of BaTiO3, a second subcomponent as represented by (Ba, Ca)xSiO2+x (where, x=0.8 to 1.2), and other subcomponents. The main component and at least part of the subcomponents except the second subcomponent are mixed to prepare a pre-calcination powder and the pre-calcination powder is calcined to prepare a calcined powder. The second subcomponent is at least mixed in the calcined powder to obtain a dielectric ceramic composition having a ratio of each subcomponent to the main component of BaTiO3 of a predetermined molar ratio.

Abstract: Disclosed is a monolithic ceramic capacitor composed of plural dielectric ceramic layers made of a ceramic material comprising strontium titanate and bismuth oxide or the like, plural inner electrodes made of a base metal material comprising nickel or a nickel alloy, which are laminated via the dielectric ceramic layer to produce the electrostatic capacity of the capacitor, and outer electrodes as electrically connected with the inner electrodes. Each dielectric ceramic layer in the capacitor contains a reduction inhibitor, for example aMO+bMnO2+cB2O3+(100−a−b−c)SiO2 (where M is at least one of Mg, Sr, Ca and Ba; and a, b and c each are, in % by mol, 10≦a≦60, 5≦b≦20 and 20≦c≦35). In producing the capacitor, the laminate of dielectric ceramic layers may be fired in a neutral or reducing atmosphere without being reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dielectric ceramic composition whose electrostatic capacity has an excellently low temperature dependence; which can be fired in a reducing atmosphere; and which is advantageously used in a laminated ceramic capacitor having an internal electrode formed of a base metal such as nickel or nickel alloy. The dielectric ceramic composition is represented by the following formula: {Ba1-xCaxO}mTiO2+&agr;MgO+&bgr;MnO, wherein 0.001≦&agr;≦0.05; 0.001≦&bgr;≦0.025; 1.000<m≦1.035; and 0.02≦x≦0.15.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic which exhibits small variation in dielectric constant, allows use of a base metal, can be fired in a reducing atmosphere and which is suitable for constituting a dielectric ceramic layer for, e.g., a laminated ceramic capacitor is obtained by firing barium titanate powder in which the c-axis/a-axis ratio in the perovskite structure is about 1.000 or more and less than about 1.003 and the amount of OH groups in the crystal lattice is about 2.0 wt. % or less. The barium titanate powder starting material preferably has a maximum particle size of about 0.3 &mgr;m or less and an average particle size of about 0.05-0.15 &mgr;m. Each particle of the barium titanate powder preferably comprises a low-crystallinity portion and a high-crystallinity portion, the diameter of the low-crystallinity portion being about 0.5 times or more the particle size of the powder.

Abstract: A method of production of a dielectric ceramic composition having at least a main component of Ba2TiO3, a second subcomponent including at least one compound selected from SiO2, MO (where M is at least one element selected from Ba, Ca, Sr, and Mg), Li2O, and B2O3, and other subcomponents, comprising the step of: mixing in said main component at least part of other subcomponents except for said second subcomponent to prepare a pre-calcination powder, calcining the pre-calcination powder to prepare a calcined powder, and mixing at least said second subcomponent in said calcined powder to obtain the dielectric ceramic composition having molar ratios of the subcomponents to the main component of predetermined ratios. As the other subcomponents, there is a third subcomponent including at least one compound selected from V2O5, MoO3, and WO3. A ratio of the third subcomponent to 100 moles of the main component is preferably 0.01 to 0.1 mole.

Abstract: The process for the production of a laminated electronic part containing a major component as represented by general formula: X(MgaZn(1−a))xSiOx+2—YAl2O3—ZSrTiO3 (where symbol a is defined by: 0.1≦a≦0.8; and symbol x is defined by: ≦x≦1.5); and an additive component comprised of a compound containing one or more elements selected from Nb, Ta and W; wherein a mole percent ratio of magnesium zinc silicate, (MgaZn(1−a))xSiOx+2, (X), to alumina, Al2O3, (Y), and strontium titanate, SrTiO3, (Z), each of which constitutes said major component, is set to be located in a region enclosed by a polygon having apexes at points A, B, C and D, as defined below, in a three-component composition map: A (94.9, 0.1, 5.0) B (85.0, 10.0, 5.0) C (65.0, 10.0, 25.0) D (65.0, 0.1, 34.9); and the additive component is contained at a rate of 0.01 to 0.

Abstract: Thin, smooth conductive layers for internal electrodes of multilayer ceramic capacitors are produced by a method including the steps of forming a conductive paste layer on a green ceramic sheet with a conductive paste by screen printing so as to have a center-line mean roughness of not more than 1.0 .mu.m, a ten-point mean roughness of not more than 5.0 .mu.m and a thickness of metal in the dried conductive paste layer of 0.5 to 2.0 .mu.m. The conductive paste consists essentially of 50 to 70% of an organic vehicle and 30 to 50% of a metal powder with a particle size range of 0.1 to 1.5 .mu.m and a mean particle size of 0.3 to 1.0 .mu.m.

Abstract: A high purity dielectric ceramic composition is disclosed. This composition provides improved electrical properties in the form of ultra-high electrical Q, a low (T.sub.f) property and a high dielectric constant (K). This composition is also amenable to large scale manufacturing processes and operations. The composition provides a multi-oxide dielectric with BaO--Nd.sub.2 O--Sm.sub.2 O.sub.3 --TiO.sub.2 --La.sub.2 O.sub.3 Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 and ZnO as constituents. The composition materials effectively provide these desirable properties in a custom composition of various oxide materials advantageously including samarium oxide (Sm.sub.2 O.sub.3).

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic essentially in the form of an aggregate of crystal grains each having a ferroelectric core enclosed in a paraelectric shell. The shells are created by thermal diffusion of magnesium into the crystal grains. Through control of the firing temperature and time the thicknesses of the shells are confined in the range of approximately 5-30% of the average grain size. The resulting ceramic is low in dielectric constant and favorable in temperature characteristic of capacitance, making it suitable for use in laminated capacitors.

Abstract: A multilayer ceramic capacitor is produced by using a dielectric ceramic composition prepared by allowing a composition represented by the composition formula (Ba.sub.1-x Ca.sub.x)TiO.sub.3 (provided that 0.005.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.05), namely, 0.5-5 mol % to contain an additive of MnO--CoO--MgO at 0.2 to 2 mol % and a Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 additive at 2.5 mol % or less and further adding a glass component comprising SiO.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --BaO--CaO--Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 at 0.5 to 5 mol % to the resulting composition. The dielectric ceramic composition can be prepared into slurry well by using an aqueous binder and can be sintered well with no occurrence of any crack even by fast firing, and even after barrel treatment, additionally, chipping hardly occurs in the dielectric ceramic composition. Accordingly, the resulting multilayer ceramic capacitor exerts an excellent breakdown voltage even at a large size and can therefore satisfy the JIS B characteristic.

Abstract: A method is provided of producing an LC-circuit in form of a single component, in which the inductor and capacitor elements are arranged atop one another, and where the inductor elements are formed by ferromagnetic zones made of layers (6,8) of ferrite of a high permeability, and between which electrode layers (7) are provided, and where the capacitor elements are formed by dielectric zones made of layers (9) of dielectric with electrode layers (4,5) on both sides, said inductor and capacitor elements being produced by way of tape- or thick-film technology. According to the invention, the capacitor elements are initially provided and being subjected to a sintering at a relatively high temperature, whereafter the inductor elements (6,7,8) are applied and a sintering is performed at a considerably low temperature. In this manner undesired reactions are avoided between the two zones.

Abstract: A method of preparing a multilayer ceramic component including capacitor therein includes the steps of carrying a long ceramic green sheet along its longitudinal direction and measuring the thickness thereof while carrying the same, forming an internal electrode on the long ceramic green sheet subjected to the measurement of the thickness, punching out the long ceramic green sheet provided with the internal electrode into prescribed dimensions and stacking the punched ceramic green sheets with each other by a number obtained on the basis of the measured value of the thickness for obtaining a laminate, obtaining a ceramic sintered body by firing the laminate.

Abstract: The method of producing a ceramic sheet for laminated ceramic electronic devices according to the present invention comprises printing an electrically conductive composition imagewise on one side of a carrier film F either directly or indirectly through a green ceramic layer G' by the screen printing technique to form electrodes E and then printing a green ceramic composition in solid on top of the printed surface by the screen printing technique to form a green ceramic layer G.

Abstract: A method for producing ceramic dielectrics containing a water soluble metal acid or salt includes making a mixture by kneading a water soluble metal acid or salt, particulates, sintering auxiliaries and water, mixing the mixture with a binder and plasticizer to form a slurry, and forming a sheet from the slurry by drying and sintering.

Abstract: A method of sintering green-ceramic moldings in a heating vessel of a furnace wherein during sintering, the moldings are set in motion in the heating vessel by moving the heating vessel in the furnace. Preferably, the vessel is rotated and pre-firing takes place in the same vessel, resulting in a very efficient method of sintering, in particular, ceramic multilayer capacitors. In accordance with the sintering method, the process time is relatively short and the volume capacity is very high. A furnace is also provided which is suitable for use in the method in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a monolithic ceramic electronic device includes the following steps: forming a first metal film on a PET film; forming a multilayered metal film by forming a second metal film on a part of the first metal film, the second metal film being thicker than the first metal film; forming a monolithic ceramic structure including the multilayered metal film; forming the first metal film, which is partially overlain by the second metal film in the monolithic ceramic structure, into an insulating structure in such a manner that metal components forming the first metal film are diffused into the ceramics; and firing the ceramics. Disclosed also is a monolithic ceramic electronic device manufactured by the method.

Abstract: Components whose palladium metal-containing constituent is not subject to delamination and which exhibit very good dielectric properties are obtained by means of a method of manufacturing a ceramic electronic component. The ceramic electronic component is essentially composed of a dielectric oxide ceramic and at least one palladium-containing component, and is obtained by firing and sintering of a green body containing an organic binder with the firing process including a first step in which the binder is removed from the binder-containing green body by means of a water-gas reaction in a water vapor-containing, essentially oxygen-free, atmosphere at temperatures between 20.degree. and 880 .degree. C., and a second step in which the dielectric oxide ceramic is re-oxidized in an atmosphere having an oxygen content of 10 to 100% by volume at a temperature in the range from 880 .degree. C. to 900 .degree. C.

Abstract: A method of preparing multilayer ceramic component including capacitor therein includes the steps of carrying a long ceramic green sheet along its longitudinal direction and measuring the thickness thereof while carrying the same, forming an internal electrode on the long ceramic green sheet subjected to the measurement of the thickness, punching out the long ceramic green sheet provided with the internal electrode into prescribed dimensions and stacking the punched ceramic green sheets with each other by a number obtained on the basis of the measured value of the thickness for obtaining a laminate, obtaining a ceramic sintered body by firing the laminate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a low temperature cofired electronic monolithic structure having one or more electronic components integrated therein comprising the steps of:A. providing a green electronic component;B. providing a stack of green low temperature cofired ceramic dielectric tape having an opening formed in the stack for receiving the green electronic component;C. placing the green electronic component in the opening in the stack to form a structure; andD. laminating and firing the structure so as to provide the monolithic electronic structure.