Breakdown in high voltage, high energy density multilayer ceramic capacitors

Causes of breakdown, both mechanical and electrical, in high voltage, high energy density, BaTiO₃ multilayer ceramic capacitors were studied. The flexural strength of the capacitors was 96 +/- 13 MPa. Failure was due to surface defects or pores close to the surfaces of the samples. The dielectric breakdown strength of the samples was 181 kV/cm. The causes of breakdown were either field enhancements due to electrode end effects or pores between the dielectric and electrode layers...The one common source of failure was porosity although it was located in different regions of the capacitors. Liquid-phase sintering can be used to eliminate porosity and therefore was chosen to improve the electrical and mechanical strengths of the capacitors --Abstract, page iv