Effects of calcination on the dielectric properties and insulation resistance of Ba0.95Ca0.05TiO3 ceramics sintered in a reducing atmosphere

This study investigated the effects of calcination treatment on the densification, microstructure, and dielectric behavior of Ba _0.95Ca _0.05TiO ₃ (BCT) doped with acceptor and rare earth elements. The calcination process promoted sintering densification and enabled the densification of the green body at lower sintering temperatures. The electrical properties of the calcined samples showed higher dielectric constant, lower losses, and higher resistivity than the uncalcined samples. The increased conduction activation energies observed in the core and shell of the calcined BCT samples were attributed to the comparatively lower concentrations of Ti ³⁺ and oxygen vacancy. The calcined BCT samples exhibited higher resistivity at room temperature and lower leakage currents at high temperatures, indicating superior reliability. This study demonstrates that the calcination of BCT can improve its dielectric properties and insulation resistance, leading to a higher dielectric constant, lower losses, and higher resistivity.