Abstract: An aluminum titanate-based ceramic body having a composition a formula comprising a(Al2O3.TiO2)+b(CaO.Al2O3.2SiO2)+c(SrO.Al2O3.2SiO2)+d(BaO.Al2O3.2SiO2)+e(3Al2O3.2SiO2)+f(Al2O3)+g (SiO2)+h(Fe2O3.TiO2)+i(MgO.2TiO2), wherein a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, and i are weight fractions of each component such that (a+b+c+d+e+f+g+h+i)=1, wherein 0.5<a?0.95; 0?b?0.5; 0?c?0.5; 0?d?0.5; 0<e?0.5; 0?f?0.5; 0?g?0.1; 0?h?0.3; 0?i?0.3; b+d>0.01. A method of forming the ceramic body is provided. The ceramic body is useful in automotive emissions control systems, such as diesel exhaust filtration.

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 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: Tunable dielectric materials including an electronically tunable dielectric ceramic and a low loss glass additive are disclosed. The tunable dielectric may comprise a ferroelectric perskovite material such as barium strontium titanate. The glass additive may comprise boron, barium, calcium, lithium, manganese, silicon, zinc and/or aluminum-containing glasses having dielectric losses of less than 0.003 at 2 GHz. The materials may further include other additives such as non-tunable metal oxides and silicates. The low loss glass additive enables the materials to be sintered at relatively low temperatures while providing improved properties such as low microwave losses and high breakdown strengths.

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 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 ceramic composite with a mixed conducting oxide that has perovskite type crystal structure of {Ln1?aAa}{BxB?yB?z}O(3??) where a, x, y, and z are within the range of 0.8?a?1, 0<x, 0<y?0.5, 0?z?0.2, 0.98?x+y+z?1.02, and ? denotes a value that is determined so as to meet a charge neutralization condition. A denotes a combination of one or more kinds of elements selected out of Ba, Sr, and Ca. B denotes a combination of one or more kinds of elements selected out of Co, Fe, Cr, and Ga, the combination always containing Fe or Co. B? denotes a combination of one or more kinds of elements selected out of Nb, Ta, Ti, and Zr, the combination always containing Nb or Ta. The present invention is also directed to a mixed conducting oxide and a ceramic composite. The mixed conducting oxide is of formula AFexO(3??). A is selected out of Ba, Sr, and Ca, and is within the range of 0.98?x?1.02, and ? denotes a value determined so as to meet the charge neutralization conditions.

Abstract: Single-phase, non-cubic and single-phase, cubic ferroelectric/paraelectric lead-based perovskite-structured materials having reasonably low and fairly temperature insensitive dielectric constants (stable dielectric constants over a wide range of operating temperatures of ?80° C. to 100° C.), reasonable loss tangents (<˜10?1), high tunability, and significantly lowered Curie temperature below the temperature range of operation for previous undoped perovskite structures are provided. The FE/PE materials of the present invention have dilute charge-compensated substitutions in the Ti site of the perovskite structure. This single-phase structure or a variant of it with a Ti rich composition, provided herein, allows for pulsed-laser-deposition of a thin film with uniform transfer of the structure of the target into the deposited film, which enables production of very small, lightweight devices that are extremely efficient and consume little power.

Abstract: A ceramic mass has a phase-heterogeneous ceramic of m weight percent of a phase composed of BaNd2Ti4O12 with negative temperature coefficient of the dielectric constant and 100-m weight percent of a phase composed of Nd2Ti2O7 with positive temperature coefficient of the dielectric constant, with m having a value of 50<m<70, and an additive of glass frit that contains ZnO, B2O3 and SiO2 and whose weight amounts to between 3 and 10 weight percent of the ceramic. The ceramic mass is used to construct a multi-layer capacitor with copper electrodes.

Abstract: A ceramic material with a sintering temperature below 1000° C. and a Perovskite Structure with the general stoichiometric composition A′1-x-yA″xB′1-a-bB″aB′″bO3 whereby A′=Y, La, Pr, Nd; A″=Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba; B′=Mn, Ti, V, Cr, Ni, Zn, Pb, Sb, W, Zr; B″=Co; B′″=Cu, Bl; O<x<=0.4; 0<=y<=0.1; 0.09<a<=0.6 and; 0.09<=b<=0.6.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a silicate-based sintering aid and a method for producing the sintering aid. The sintering aid, or frit, may be added to dielectric compositions, including barium titanate-based compositions, to lower the sintering temperature. The sintering aid may be a single or multi-component silicate produced via a precipitation reaction by mixing solutions including silicon species and alkaline earth metal species. The sintering aid can be produced as nanometer-sized particles, or as coatings on the surfaces of pre-formed dielectric particles. Dielectric compositions that include the sintering aid may be used to form dielectric layers in MLCCs and, in particular, ultra-thin dielectric layers.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a dielectric ceramic composition which enables its firing temperature to be lowered and which has an excellent electrical properties, particularly temperature dependence of resonance frequencies. A dielectric ceramic composition according to the invention comprises an oxide of a barium titanate family having a composition formula represented as BaTixO2x+1 (3.5≦x≦5.0); a first chemical element group consisting of at least one kind of alkaline-earth metals, silicon, zinc, aluminium, titanium, copper, bismuth and molybdenum; and a second chemical element group consisting of at least one kind of alkali metals and boron. A weight ratio of a total of each chemical element in the first and second chemical element groups to the oxide (the total of each chemical element/the oxide) is between 45/55 and 65/35 inclusive when the ratio is determined by converting said each chemical element to its oxide.

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 dielectric thin film material and method of preparation in which precursors are provided to form barium strontium titanate with lanthanum (La) added as a dopant. The precursors and La dopant are mixed with a solvent forming a solution which is deposited on a substrate to form a continuous film composition. In various embodiments, the dielectric thin film has a composition of (1-y)Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3−(y)La, where y=0 to 10-mol. The thin film material has dielectric and insulating properties suitable for tunable microwave applications.

Abstract: A dielectric composition that can be fired at a temperature of below 900° C. The dielectric composition has a dielectric constant of 25-35 and a quality factor (Qxf) of 6,000-20,000 GHz. The composition comprises 3-16 wt % of K2O—Na2O—Li2O—B2O3—SiO2 system glass frit and 84-97 wt % of BaO—TiO2 system dielectric ceramics. The composition can be effectively applied to construct a part of a ceramic multi-layer packaging as a resonator form such as a filter or an antenna, etc.

Abstract: A nonreducing dielectric ceramic comprising a (Sr, Ca)(Ti, Zr)O3-based perovskite principal crystal phase containing 55 mole percent or more of SrTiO3 and whose powder CuK&agr; X-ray diffraction pattern exhibits a ratio of less than 5% of the maximum peak intensity of the accessory crystal phases being the other crystal phases to the intensity of the maximum peak of the perovskite crystal phase, which is present at 2&thgr;=25° to 35°. This strontium titanate-based nonreducing dielectric ceramic has a high relative dielectric constant of 150 or more, a low third-order harmonic distortion ratio, and an excellent reliability in a high temperature-loading test. Accordingly, it is advantageously used for forming dielectric ceramic layers of a monolithic ceramic capacitor.

Abstract: Electronically tunable dielectric materials having favorable properties are disclosed. The electronically tunable materials include an electronically tunable dielectric phase such as barium strontium titanate in combination with at least two additional metal oxide phases. The additional metal oxide phases may include, for example, oxides of Mg, Si, Ca, Zr, Ti and Al. The electronically tunable materials may be provided in bulk, thin film and thick film forms for use in devices such as phased array antennas, tunable filters and the like. The materials are useful in many applications, including the area of radio frequency engineering and design.

Abstract: A ceramic mass includes one ceramic material and at least a second different ceramic material. Glass material is arranged between the ceramic materials. The glass material reduces the sintering temperature of the ceramic mass and prevents the various ceramic materials from forming a mixed crystal when the ceramic mass is sintered. The ceramic mass is suitable for use in LTCC technology for the production of capacitors whose permittivity is dependent upon a specific temperature range.

Abstract: A method for making a raw dielectric ceramic powder having a composition represented by the general formula ABO3 includes the steps of allowing a carbonate powder of the element A to adsorb an organic polymer compound to produce an organic carbonate powder containing the adsorbed organic polymer compound, mixing the organic carbonate powder and an oxide powder of the element B to prepare a mixed powder, and calcining the mixed powder. Also disclosed are a dielectric ceramic produced by molding and firing the raw dielectric ceramic powder produced by the method and a monolithic ceramic capacitor fabricated using the dielectric ceramic.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic composition having high static capacitance and high dielectric constant and satisfying X7R characteristics and a multilayer ceramic capacitor using the same is provided. The dielectric ceramic composition comprises barium titanate as a main component, and comprises magnesium oxide, dysprosium oxide, barium oxide, calcium oxide, and vanadium oxide, as subcomponents, wherein magnesium oxide converted into MgO is 1 to 3 mol, dysprosium oxide converted into Dy2O3 is 1 to 5 mol, total of barium oxide and calcium oxide converted into BaO and CaO, respectively, is 0.1 to 5 mol, and vanadium oxide converted into V2O5 is 0.01 to 0.1 mol, when barium titanate converted into BaTiO3 is 100 mol.

Abstract: The invention includes a ferroelectric physical vapor deposition target having a predominate grain size of less than or equal to 1.0 micron, and a density of at least 95% of maximum theoretical density. A method of making the target includes hot pressing a prereacted ferroelectric powder predominately including individual prereacted ferroelectric particles having a maximum straight linear dimension of less than or equal to 100 nanometers to form a physical vapor deposition target of desired shape. In one implementation, the prereacted ferroelectric powder is hot pressed at a maximum pressing temperature which is at least 200° C. lower than would be required to produce at least 85% of maximum theoretical density in hot pressing the same powder but having a predominate particle size maximum straight linear dimension of at least 1.0 micron at the same pressure and for the same amount of time.

Abstract: Electronically tunable thick film composites of tunable phases such as barium strontium titanate and additional dielectric oxide phases are disclosed. The composite thick films can contain multiple phases such as barium strontium titanate and MgTiO3, Mg2SiO4, CaSiO3, MgO, MgZrO3, CaTiO3, MgAl2O4, and MgSrZrTiO6. The thick films may contain further additives such as zirconnates, stannates, rare earths, niobates and tantalates, for example, CaZrO3, BaZrO3, SrZrO3, BaSnO3, CaSnO3, MgSnO3, Bi2O3/2SnO2, Nd2O3, Pr7O11, Yb2O3, Ho2O3, La2O3, MgNb2O6, SrNb2O6, BaNb2O6, MgTa2O6, BaTa2O6, and Ta2O3 to improve the electronic and microwave properties of the thick film composites. The particle size of these films may be controlled in order to optimize the electronic and microwave properties. The electronically tunable thick film composites may be made by techniques such as screen-printing or spray deposition.

Abstract: An integrated ceramic module is formed of a first ceramic dielectric layer containing a glass as a sintering agent and having a high dielectric constant and high Q value, formed with an electronic component, and a second ceramic dielectric layer containing a glass as a sintering agent and having a low dielectric constant and a high Q value, formed with a signal transmission line.

Abstract: A dielectric compound for a multilayer ceramic condenser having a low sintering temperature and a high dielectric constant includes a base material of (BaxCa1−x)m(TiyZr1−y)O3 (where 0.7≦x≦1, 0.75≦y≦0.9, 0.998≦m≦1.006), an additive including MnO2 of less than 0.8 weight %, Y2O3 of less than 0.8 weight %, V2O5 of 0˜0.1 weight %, and a sintering aid of zLi2O−2(1−z)SiO2 (0.2≦z≦0.9) of less than 1.0 weight %. The weight % is a ratio relating to a weight of base material of the dielectric compound.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing barium titanate-based particulate compositions. The method includes a heat treatment step, separate from a sintering step, that involves treating a barium titanate-based particulate composition at a temperature between about 700° C. and about 1150° C. to increase average particle size. The increased average particle size can improve the electrical properties (i.e., dielectric constant and dissipation factor) of the heat-treated composition as compared to the composition prior to heat treating. The heat-treated composition may be further processed, for example, by producing a dispersion which may be cast and sintered to form a dielectric layer in electronic components including MLCCs.

Abstract: Dielectric composite materials including an electronically tunable dielectric phase and a calcium and oxygen-containing compound are disclosed. The tunable phase may comprise a material such as barium strontium titanate. The calcium/oxygen compound may comprise CaO or a transition metal-containing compound such as Ca2Nb2O7 or CaTiO3. The material may also include a rare earth oxide dopant such as CeO2. The materials resist dielectric breakdown and possess improved combinations of electronic properties. The materials may be tailored for specific applications.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive material is made of a BaTiO3-based porcelain composed mainly of BaTiO3 and containing CuO and Nb2O5. 85% or more of the crystal grains constituting the porcelain are grains having particle diameters of 10 &mgr;m or less and the maximum particle diameters of the grains are in a range of 5 to 25 &mgr;m. This BaTiO3-based piezoelectric/electrostrictive material is superior in piezoelectric/electrostrictive properties to conventional products and can be suitably used in an actuator or a sensor.

Abstract: A high frequency dielectric ceramic composition includes: as a major component a composition which contains a rare earth element (Re), Al, Sr, and Ti as metal elements and has a composition formula expressed by a molar ratio of aRe2O3—bAl2O3—cSrO—dTiO2 in which a, b, c, and d satisfy the following formula; 0.113≦a≦0.172, 0.111≦b≦0.171, 0.322≦c≦0.388, 0.323≦d≦0.396, and a+b+c+d=1.000; and 0.01 to 2 parts by weight on a Fe2O3 conversion basis of Fe as an element, based on 100 parts by weight of the major component.

Abstract: A dielectric ceramic composition including a dielectric base phase containing BaTiO3 as a main component, and plate-shaped or acicula deposition phase existing together in the dielectric base phase. Preferably, the dielectric ceramic composition includes a main component of BaTiO3, a first subcomponent including at least one compound selected from MgO, CaG, BaG, SrO and Cr2O3, a second subcomponent of (Ba, Ca)xSiO2+x (where, x=0.8 to 1.2), a third subcomponent including at least one compound selected from V2O5, MoO3, and WO3, and a fourth subcomponent including an oxide of R1 (where R1 is at least one element selected from Sc, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu), a fifth subcomponent including an oxide of R2 (where R2 is at least one element selected from Y, Dy, Ho, Tb, Gb and Eu), wherein the ratios of the subcomponents to 100 moles of the main component of BaTiO3 are first subcomponent of 0.1 to 3 moles, second subcomponent of 2 to 10 moles, third subcomponent of 0.01 to 0.5 mole, fourth subcomponent of 0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microwave component with a main body (1), a coupling surface (6) and a decoupling surface (7), in which the main body (1) comprises a ceramic material that contains at least two different components, each of which is present in phases separate from one another, in which each of the components exhibits a perovskite structure, which contains silver in the A positions and niobium and tantalum in the B positions, and in which the composition of a component A and the composition of a component B is each selected in such a way that the temperature coefficients of their relative permittivities TK&egr;A and TK&egr;B exhibit different signs within a temperature interval. The mixing ratio of component A to component B is advantageously selected in such a way as to produce, in keeping with the Lichtenecker rule, the most complete compensation possible of TK&egr;A and TK&egr;B.

Abstract: The invention provides a piezoelectric ceramic material comprising a Bi3TiNbO9 crystal and/or an MBi2Nb2O9 crystal which are each a bismuth layer compound, where M represents at least one element selected from Sr, Ba and Ca. The ceramic material contains Bi, Ti, M and Nb as main component elements. The molar ratio as oxides of the main component elements is given by (Bi3−xMx)z (Nb1+yTi1−y)O9 provided that 0<x, y≦0.8 and 0.95≦z≦1.05. When the molar ratio of Ba/(M+Bi) is given by xB/3 and the molar ratio of Ca/(M+Bi) is given by xC/3, it is required that 0≦xB≦0.5 and 0≦xC<0.4. This piezoelectric ceramic material, free from any lead whatsoever, has a sufficiently high Curie point, and exhibits ever more improved piezoelectric properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition that can be sintered at a temperature of about 1025° C. or less to form an NPO dielectric ceramic. The composition according to the invention includes a mixture of from about 90% to about 99.5% by weight of a calcined (Ba, Ca, Sr, Nd, Gd)TiO3 main component and from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of an additive component. The additive component includes a glass including by weight from about 45% to about 54% BaO, from about 19% to about 24% ZnO, from about 13% to about 20% B2O3, and from about 2% to about 23% SiO2.

Abstract: High temperature composites and thermal barrier coatings, and related methods, using anisotropic ceramic materials, such materials as can be modified to reduce substrate thermal mismatch.

Abstract: Multilayer ceramic chip capacitors which satisfy X5R (−55 to 85° C., &Dgr;C=±15%) requirements and which are compatible with reducing atmosphere sintering conditions so that base metals such as nickel and nickel alloys may be used for internal electrodes are made in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: A method for producing a barium-containing composite metal oxide, comprising calcining a mixture of a barium compound and a metal compound comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, europium, manganese, strontium, calcium, terbium, zinc and titanium, or calcining a barium-containing composite metal salt comprising barium and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, europium, manganese, strontium, calcium, terbium, zinc and titanium, in a gas comprising a hydrogen halide and water vapor.

Abstract: A dielectric thin film material for high frequency use, including use as a capacitor, and having a low dielectric loss factor is provided, the film comprising a composition of tungsten-doped barium strontium titanate of the general formula (BaxSr1−x)TiO3, where X is between about 0.5 and about 1.0. Also provided is a method for making a dielectric thin film of the general formula (BaxSr1−x)TiO3 and doped with W, where X is between about 0.5 and about 1.0, a substrate is provided, TiO2, the W dopant, Ba, and optionally Sr are deposited on the substrate, and the substrate containing TiO2, the W dopant, Ba, and optionally Sr is heated to form a low loss dielectric thin film.

Abstract: A ceramic capacitor containing at least one dielectric layer formed from a dielectric ceramic composition comprising a sintered body containing ceramic particles having a core/shell structure in an amount of 15% or more based on the total ceramic particles of the sintered body, the core/shell structured particle being composed of a core portion, which is BaTiO3 crystal, and a shell portion surrounding the core portion, which is made of a solid solution comprising BaTiO3 as a major component, has excellent temperature characteristics and a long life-time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dielectric composition, which is advantageous in light of increased homogeneity and insulation resistance, a method of preparing the same and a multi-layer ceramic capacitor using the same. The dielectric composition consists of a dielectric component represented by (Ba1−x−yCaxAy)m(Ti1−a−b−cZraB′bB″c)O3+m, (wherein, 0.01≦x≦0.10, 0.003≦y≦0.015, 0.16≦a≦0.20, 0.003≦b≦0.015, 0≦c≦0.015, 1.000≦m≦1.010; the component A is selected from among Y oxides, La oxides, Ho oxides, Dy oxides, Er oxides, Hf oxides and combinations thereof; the component B′ is selected from among Mn oxides, Co oxides, Ni oxides and combinations thereof; and the component B″ is selected from among V oxides, Nb oxides, Ta oxides and combinations thereof), and a sintering aid represented by zLi2O-2(1−z)SiO2(0≦Z≦0.9).

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 piezoelectric material exhibiting a high Curie point and a high displacement at a low drive voltage is provided. The piezoelectric material contains as a main component a composite oxide and is expressed by the general formula [Pb{1−x1−x2−&agr;(x1−x2)}, A1x1, A2x2] {(Tiy, Zrz) (1−&bgr;(x1−x2)−&ggr;), (Y0.5, Nb0.5)&ggr;}O3, where y+z=1, 1.15<z/y<1.30 and 0<&ggr;<0.1; and A1, A2, x1, x2 satisfy any of the conditions (i) A1 is at least selected one of Ce and La, A2 is K, 0.02≦x1<0.08, 0≦x2≦0.05 (0.02≦x1+x2≦0.1, x1≦x2) and &agr;=0, &bgr;=0.25 or &agr;=0.5, &bgr;=0, and (ii) A1 is Sr, A2 is Ba, 0.03≦x1≦0.05, 0.03≦x2≦0.05 (|x1−x2|≦0.01), and &agr;=0, &bgr;=0.

Abstract: The invention comprises ferroelectric vapor deposition targets and to methods of making ferroelectric vapor deposition targets. In one implementation, a ferroelectric physical vapor deposition target has a predominate grain size of less than or equal to 1.0 micron, and has a density of at least 95% of maximum theoretical density. In one implementation, a method of making a ferroelectric physical vapor deposition target includes positioning a prereacted ferroelectric powder within a hot press cavity. The prereacted ferroelectric powder predominately includes individual prereacted ferroelectric particles having a maximum straight linear dimension of less than or equal to about 100 nanometers. The prereacted ferroelectric powder is hot pressed within the cavity into a physical vapor deposition target of desired shape having a density of at least about 95% of maximum theoretical density and a predominate maximum grain size which is less than or equal to 1.0 micron.

Abstract: A solid-phase method for making a barium titanate powder involves the steps of compounding powdered barium carbonate and powdered titanium oxide and calcining the mixture. The powdered barium carbonate used is needle particles having an aspect ratio of the length of the long axis to the length of the short axis of at least about 2. The powdered barium carbonate preferably has a specific surface area of about 5 m2/g or more. The resulting barium titanate powder is finer and homogeneous.

Abstract: Composition for a solid state material, in bulk and in thin film form, that provides relatively high dielectric permittivity that is tunable with variable electrical field bias, relatively low loss tangent and low leakage current for microwave applications. In a first embodiment, the material is BaySr1−yTi1−xMxO3, where M is a substance or mixture including one or more elements drawn from a group consisting of Ta, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Al, Ga, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Sc and Re, and the indices x and y satisfy 0≦x≦1 and 0≦y≦1. A preferred choice is M=Ta, V, W, Mo and/or Nb. In a second embodiment, the material is BaySr1−yTi1−x−zTaxMzO3, where M is a substance or mixture including one or more trivalent elements drawn from a group consisting of Al, Ga and Cr and the indices x, y and z satisfy 0≦x+z≦1 and 0≦y≦1.

Abstract: A ceramic slurry composition has a powdered ceramic uniformly dispersed therein without excessive damage thereto. A method for producing a ceramic green sheet using the ceramic slurry composition and a method for producing multilayer ceramic electronic devices are also disclosed. The ceramic slurry composition contains the powdered ceramic, a dispersing agent, a binder and a solvent, in which an anionic dispersing agent is used as the dispersing agent, and the content of the anionic dispersing agent is set to be such that the total acid content thereof corresponds to about 10 to 150% of the total base content of the powdered ceramic. In addition, the powdered ceramic having an average particle diameter of about 0.01 to 1 &mgr;m is used.

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 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 &mgr;m, and the mean particle size of the additive component particles is made not more than 0.31 &mgr;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 &mgr;m are provided.

Abstract: A high permittivity dielectric ceramic composition wherein a main component includes BaTiO3: 74.24 to 79.97 mol %, BaZrO3: 5.69 to 12.04 mol %, CaTiO3: 7.84 to 12.13 mol %, MgTiO5: 3.11 to 4.72 mol % and Bi2TiO5: 0.10 to 0.60 mol %. With respect to 100 wt % of the main component, 0.1 or less (excepting 0) of NiO, 0.1 wt % or less (excepting 0) of CeO2 and 0.2 wt % or less (excepting 0) of MnO are included. In accordance with need, 0.2 wt % or less (excepting 0) of SiO2 is further included with respect to 100 wt % of the main component. A high relative permittivity, such as 9000 or more, a high AC breakdown voltage, and a small electrostatic capacity change rage with respect to temperature can be obtained.

Abstract: In order to achieve miniaturization and an increase in the capacitance of a monolithic ceramic capacitor, a conductive paste suitable for forming an internal conductor film is provided, the layer thickness of the internal conductor film being decreased with a decrease in the layer thickness of a dielectric ceramic layer. The conductive paste contains a conductive powder, such as a nickel powder, an organic vehicle, an organic acid barium salt and an organic zirconium compound. Each of the organic acid barium salt in terms of barium atom and the organic zirconium compound in terms of zirconium atom is about 0.05 to 1.00 mol per mol of the conductive powder, and the content of the organic zirconium compound in terms of zirconium atom is about 0.98 to 1.02 mol per mol of the organic acid barium salt in terms of barium atom.

Abstract: Crystalline dielectric lead zirconate titanate thin film composites on metallic foils exhibit high dielectric constants, low dielectric loss (loss tangent of less than 5%) and low leakage current. The lead zirconate titanates may be of the formula PbZrxTiyOz (PZT) wherein x and y are independently from about 0.35 to about 0.65 and z is from about 2.5 to about 5.0. The thin foil dielectric composites can be prepared by a variety of methods including deposition of PZT thin films on brass, platinum, titanium, and stainless steel foils using sol-gel processing, sputtering deposition and chemical vapor deposition.

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: An electric-field-inducible deformable porcelain material is provided, comprising a main component BaTiO3, with 0.05 to 2 wt % of at least one selected from Mn, Cu and Co in terms of a metal added thereto. The crystal phase in the porcelain is a single perovskite phase, and the value of the transversal electric-field-inducible deformation is 300×10−6 or more in the field strength of 2000 V/mm. It is presumed that the amount of the rotating 90° domain becomes greater, and the electric-field-induced deformation due to this is increased. Thus, a sufficient displacement amount as a piezoelectric material is obtained.