Microstructural phenomena in low-firing ceramics

The contribution of a ceramic’s extrinsic phenomena to its microwave dielectric properties is reviewed. The extrinsic phenomena which are related to the microstructural characteristics, are grouped into four classes: grain characteristics, pore characteristics, phase composition and crystallite characteristics. The individual classes are discussed with the aim of minimizing their mainly detrimental influence on the dielectric losses. A number of examples are described.