Maxwell-wagner relaxation and degradation of SrTiO3 and BaTiO3 ceramics

Abstract

Ceramics of undoped SrTiO3 and BaTiO3 (at T > Tc) show a pronounced Maxwell-Wagner relaxation at ultra low frequencies. This indicates thin nonconducting barrier layers at the grain boundaries and some residual conductivity in the grain. Degradation of the ceramic starts when the electrical field, which develops at the grain boundaries, exceeds breakdown strength.