Fabrication of Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 components combining rapid prototyping with gelcasting using different gelling systems

Abstract

Barium strontium titanate (BSTO) is a ceramic that finds application as a high-storage capacitor, sensor, detector, transducer and in tuneable microwave devices and as filters. This paper discusses the synthesis of slurries with suspended particles and fabrication of Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 components of different shapes and dimensions using environmentally friendly gelling systems like Isobam and methylcellulose, and also the widely used, but toxic, methyl acrylamide system. Suitable moulds made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) are fabricated by rapid prototyping and a concentrated slurry of the required ceramic is set in it by gelcasting; the process is referred to as RPGC process. The green body is further processed to obtain a density higher than 98 %. The sintered products are evaluated by measuring density, microstructure and dielectric properties. This work opens up the possibility of adopting the versatile RPGC process with non-toxic organics for applications by industries.

Keywords

• Barium strontium titanate components
• Rapid prototyping
• Gelcasting
• RPGC process
• Net shape processing
• Properties