Structural properties of 0.8CaZrO3-0.2CaFe2O4 composite

A composite with the 0.8CaZrO3-0.2CaFe2O4 general formula was prepared by means of a double sintering process. Temperature of 1400 °C was found suitable to obtain the composite based on scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Phase composition, crystal structure, Mössbauer effect, microstructure and dielectric properties were studied. The influence of Fe ions on the CaZrO3 structure has been reported. It was found that Fe substituted Zr in CaZrO3 and vice versa in CaFe2O4 in the amount about 1.5 at% in both cases. The approximated formula of the obtained composite was 0.8Ca(Zr0.9Fe0.1)O3-0.2Ca(Fe0.8Zr0.2)2O4. The SEM observations revealed that liquid CaFe2O4 occurred as a filling phase between CaZrO3 grains which significantly enhanced densification of the material and influence on its properties. The dielectric constant reached the value of 170 at 1 MHz and the accompanying dissipation factor was very low - 0.005.