Microstructural studies of modified SBN ceramics

Strontium barium niobate (SBN) is a ferroelectric solid solution with tetragonal tungsten bronze structure. SBN exhibits excellent pyroelectric and electro-optic properties. Solid solutions of (Sr/sub x/Ba/sub 1-x/)/sub 0.8/ Na/sub 0.4/R/sub y/Nb/sub 2/O/sub 6/ where R/sub y/=Y, Zn, Mg, Fe, have been prepared by the conventional ceramic technique. The microstructures were studied with the aid of a scanning electron microscope on fractured surfaces of ceramic compositions and the average grain diameter was measured by the linear intercept method. The results are discussed in relation to the grain sizes.