LOWERING CALCINATION TEMPERATURE OF CaCu3Ti4O12 FORMATION BY MODIFIED MECHANICAL ALLOYING PROCESS

CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) compounds with a perovskite-type structure have been reported by many researchers to show a very high dielectric constant value and temperature independence over a wide temperature range. In this work, the CCTO were prepared by modified mechanical alloying technique, which is a combination of a ball milling and solid state reaction processes. The starting materials of Ca(OH)2, CuO and TiO2 powder were weighed according to the stoichiometric ratio, mixed together and follow by fast ball milling in sealed alumina vial under ambient condition for 5 hours. The milled powders were subjected to calcination process at 600, 700, 800 and 900 oC in air for 12 hours, respectively. The yellow-brown calcined powders were then pressed into pelle