Effect of grain size and external stress on dielectric temperature characteristics of dysprosium modified barium titanate

Various particle sizes of starting barium titanate were used to examine effect of grain size and external stress on the dielectric temperature characteristics of dysprosium modified barium titanate. The grain size was somewhat proportional to the particle size of starting barium titanate. The dielectric temperature characteristics of the small grains (< 4 mu m) was less sensitive to the grain size in comparison with those of the large grains (>4 mu m), which was attributable to the internal stress. Moreover it was suggested that stress is one of the origins of diffuse phase transition (DPT). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.