Microstructure and dielectric properties of CBS glass-doped Sr_0.5Ba_0.5Nb₂O₆ ceramic system

40CaO–20B₂O₃–40SiO₂ (abbreviate as CBS) glass-doped Sr_0.5Ba_0.5Nb₂O₆ (SBN50) ceramics were fabricated by solid-state ceramic route. The effects of CBS glass addition on the firing, the phase formation, the microstructure and dielectric characterization of SBN50 ceramics were investigated. Results show that the density of the samples firstly increase and then slightly decrease with increasing CBS glass content and the highest density achieved has been 97% of the theoretical density for the sample with 2% (mass fraction) CBS glass. The sintering temperature was significantly reduced from 1,350 to 1,100 °C. X-ray diffraction analysis shows the single phase tungsten bronze type structure is preserved up to 2% CBS glass. However, the samples with more than 5% CBS glass are found to have a secondary phase CaNbO₃. The diffuse character and the dielectric constant at room temperature increase as CBS glass content increases. The dielectric constant of the samples at the Curie temperature (T _c) firstly increases and then decreases with increasing the content of CSB glass. Interestingly, the grain sizes of SBN phase are found to obviously increase with increase in CBS glass doping level.