Fabrication of textured Bi/sub 4/Ti/sub 3/O/sub 12/ by templated grain growth

Dense, textured Bi/sub 4/Ti/sub 3/O/sub 12/ was produced by templated grain growth (TGG). Phase pure nanosized Bi/sub 4/Ti/sub 3/O/sub 12/ powder was prepared by coprecipitation of an aqueous solution of Bi/sub 2/O/sub 3/ and TiO(OH)Cl. Plate-like particles with aspect ratios of 6-60 were obtained by the molten salt method at 1100/spl deg/C. The plate-like particles were dispersed in the calcined powder and oriented by tape casting and laminating. The laminates were sintered from 900-1100/spl deg/C to obtained textured ceramics up to 96% dense. Texture development was investigated by X-ray diffraction, and dielectric measurements were made on both templated and untemplated samples.