Preparation of 〈1 1 1〉-textured BaTiO3 ceramics by templated grain growth method using novel template particles

Dense BaTiO3 ceramics with 〈1 1 1〉-texture were prepared by the TGG process. Platelike BaTiO3 particles with their 〈1 1 1〉 direction perpendicular to the plate face were prepared by the reaction of platelike Ba6Ti17O40 particles with BaCO3 particles in molten NaCl. A green compact was composed of the aligned, platelike BaTiO3 template particles dispersed in the matrix of small, equiaxed BaTiO3 particles. Sintering caused densification and also the growth of template particles at the expense of matrix particles, resulting in texture development. Densification prior to grain growth was found to be necessary to obtain highly textured ceramics, and the effect of pre-sintering conditions on texture development was examined.