Abstract
BaTiO 3 -based grain-boundary barrier layer capacitors are prepared by a conventional ceramic fabrication process with SiO 2 , Dy 2 O 3 and Nb 2 O 5 dopants. A two-stage sintering process is employed to investigate the influence of the sintering conditions on the grain size of the BaTiO 3 ceramics. The reducing sintering atmosphere or reducing catalytic dopant decreases the apparent eutectic temperature of the BaTiO 3 ceramics. The decrease in the eutectic temperature associated with abnormal grain growth is related to the oxygen partial pressure during sintering. By properly employing the sintering temperature profile and the sintering atmosphere, a desirable microstructure with controlled grain growth could be achieved. © 1988 Chapman and Hall Ltd.