Improvement in magnetoelectric and other physical properties of BSZT-NZF composites by microwave sintering

• The microwave sintering helps to save energy and time.
• The value of magnetoelectric coefficient ‘α’ is found to be increased by 12.5%.
• The dielectric properties were found to be improved by microwave sintering.
• Comparable grain size can be achieved in small duration of time.

A comparative study of conventional (CS) and microwave sintered (MS) magnetoelectric (ME) composites with compositional formula 0.90Ba0.9Sr0.1Zr0.04Ti0.96O3+0.10Ni0.8 Zn0.2Fe2O4 (BSZT-NZF) was done. The present report is on the achievement of comparable properties achieved by microwave sintering of the composites at an expense of less energy and time as compared to conventional sintering. The value of magnetoelectric coupling coefficient ‘α’ was found to be increased by 12.5% by microwave sintering. The value of α was 1.6 and 1.8 mV/cm-Oe for CS and MS composite sample respectively. The dielectric, ferroelectric and magnetic properties were found to be improved for MS composite sample.