ANOVA Modeling on Sintering Parameters and Frequencies, Affecting Microstructure and Dielectric Constant of Nb Doped BaTiO3

Properties of barium titanate (BaTiO3) which is used as a dielectric material can be engineered if it is doped with metal ions such as niobium, tantalum, zirconium etc. Moreover both sintering temperature and doping level have significant effects on grain size as well as density which directly affect the dielectric constant of the material. In this work in order to generate the significance of variables a statistical modeling by ANOVA, analysis of variance has been performed on sintering parameters and frequencies effecting microstructure and dielectric constant of Nb doped BaTiO3 having a formula of BaTi1-xNbxO3 ; x= 0.004, 0.008. After processing and characterization of the prepared material, it was evident that sintering temperature has stronger effect than doping level of Nb in determining the density of niobium doped BaTiO3 whereas Nb concentration has stronger effect in determining the grain size over sintering temperature which was clearly established in ANOVA. Furthermore, effect of frequencies in determining dielectric constant of BaTiO3 was strongly observed when it was modelled with holding time during sintering.