Crystallization behavior, microstructure and dielectric properties of lead titanate glass ceramics in the presence of Bi2O3 as a nucleating agent

The crystallization behavior of PbO–TiO2–B2O3–SiO2 glasses in the presence of Bi2O3 as a nucleating agent were studied utilizing XRD, DTA, SEM. The glass samples heat treated in the range of 557–630 °C for different soaking times, all developed PbTiO3 (PT) with perovskite structure. It was found that the addition of 0.5–1.0 mol% Bi2O3 resulted in the formation of homogenous, nano-structured glass ceramics with a mean crystallite size of 20–25 nm and PbTiO3 as the major crystalline phase. The dielectric constant and dissipation factors for the prepared glass ceramics were in ∼140–400 and ∼0.04–0.4 ranges respectively.