Application Oriented Selection of Optimal Sintering Temperature from User Perspective: A Study on K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃ Ceramics

Abstract

This work presents a novel user oriented approach that can relate materials science with technological applications in a more transparent, systematic and efficient manner. We have made an attempt to figure out the optimal (corresponding to best combination of material properties) sintering temperature of K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃ (KNN) for transducer and electrical energy storage applications. The weights and priority of vital physical properties for applications understudy are calculated using the quality function deployment (QFD) method. Losses (tanδ), charge storage properties (ϵ_r, P_r and E_C) and elastic compliance (s^E₁₂ and s^E₁₁) are found to have negative priority for transducer application while in the other case d₃₁, tanδ, s^E₁₂ and s^E₁₁ are spotted to have negative priority. Priority order for transducer and energy storage application is d₃₁>k_p>Q_M>T_c>tanδ>ϵ_r>P_r=E_C=s^E₁₂=s^E₁₁>ρ and ϵ_r>d₃₁=tanδ>s^E₁₂=s^E₁₁>T_c>P_r>E_C>k_p>ρ>Q_M, respectively. Finally, 1080°C (transducer) and 1120°C (capacitor) are the found to be the most appropriate solutions among the alternatives under using modified analytic hierarchy process (AHP).

Keywords:

• Ferroelectric; materials selection; AHP; lead-free

Funding

The authors would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for its funding of this research through the Research Group Project No. RGP-VPP-290.