Effect of B2O3 addition on the sintering temperature and microwave dielectric properties of Zn2SiO4 ceramics

B2O3 (25.0 mol%) was added to Zn2−xSiO4−x ceramics (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) to decrease the sintering temperature. Specimens with 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3 sintered at 900 °C were well sintered with a high density due to the formation of a B2O3 or B2O3–SiO2 liquid phase. The Q × f value of the Zn2SiO4 ceramic was relatively low, 32,000 GHz, most likely due to the presence of a ZnO second phase. A maximum Q × f value of 70,000 GHz was obtained for the specimens with x = 0.2–0.3, and their ɛr and τf values were approximately 6.0 and −21.9 ppm/°C, respectively. Ag metal did not interact with the 25.0 mol% B2O3-added Zn1.8SiO3.8 ceramic, indicating that Zn2−xSiO4−x ceramics containing B2O3 are a good candidate materials for low temperature co-fired ceramic devices.