Effect of sintering time to the properties of CaCu3Ti4O12 using enhanced microwave processing

Electroceramic is one part of advanced ceramics that are increasing in demand for a multi-billion pound industry worldwide. The perovskite family of materials had led to much important application among electroceramics because it is famous in producing high dielectric constants. Calcium copper titanate, CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) had received much attention due to its high dielectric constant. However, its high dielectric loss makes it lack performing in energy. In order to overcome the problem, enhanced microwave processing is one of the techniques that are used to improve the overall process and product quality efficiency. The objectives of this study are to investigate the effect of sintering time on the properties of CCTO by using enhanced microwave processing. The powder form of three raw materials which were calcium carbonate (CaCO3), copper oxide (CuO) and titanium oxide (TiO2) have been weighed according to the stoichiometric ratio to form pure CCTO. The mixed powder was ball milled for 24 hours using wet mixing. The mixed powder was sintered in different time duration (1h, 2h, 3h, 4h and 5h) by using enhanced microwave processing. This study is focused on the phase formation of calcined powder and sintered pellet, and the properties of the sintered pellets. Phase formation was analysed by using X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The XRD results had shown that it is not completely formed the single-phase CCTO. After the sintering process, pellet sintered for 2 hours shows full single-phase CCTO. The bulk density of the sintered pellet increase as the time of sintering increase and the apparent porosity decreeseas the time of sintering increase.