Microwave-assisted sintering and improved dielectric, ferroelectric properties of 0.5[(Ba _0.7 Ca _0.3 )TiO ₃ ]–0.5[Ba(Zr _0.2 Ti _0.8 )O ₃ ] lead-free ceramics

0.5[(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3]–0.5[Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3] lead-free ceramics were synthesised by coprecipitation method and sintered by fast microwave sintering (MWS) and by conventional sintering (CS) at 1200°C. After being sintered with the two different methods, the materials were characterised for structural, microstructural, frequency and temperature-dependent dielectric properties, Raman spectroscopy, and ferroelectric measurements. Results are compared and discussed in the present paper. X-ray diffraction confirms the presence of the tetragonal and rhombohedral phases in the composites sintered by both methods. The ferroelectric to paraelectric transition temperature (Tc) is increased in microwave-sintered composite. Diffuse constant (γ) values show BCT–BZT ceramics to be neither normal ferroelectrics nor relaxor ferroelectrics. Raman spectra confirm phase transition in the ceramic samples. Saturation polarisation (Ps) values are 7.62 and 4.28 µC cm−2 and nearly equal remanant polarisation (Pr) values were observed for BCT–BZT composite sintered with MWS and CS, respectively.