Effect of Mn/Mg co-substitution on the phase composition, microstructure, and microwave dielectric properties of SrAl2−x(Mn0.5Mg0.5)xSi2O8 ceramics
摘要
SrAl2−x(Mn0.5Mg0.5)xSi2O8 (x = 0–0.06) microwave dielectric ceramics were synthesized via a solid-state reaction route. The sintering behavior, phase composition, microstructure, and microwave dielectric properties were systematically investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) with Rietveld refinement and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), together with microwave dielectric measurements. XRD–Rietveld refinement confirms that a single-phase monoclinic SrAl2Si2O8 solid solution is maintained for x ≤ 0.02, whereas a Sr2MgSi2O7 secondary phase appears for x ≥ 0.03 and increases with substitution, indicating the solubility limit of Mn/Mg co-substitution. The introduction of Mn/Mg effectively lowers the optimum densification temperature from 1500 °C (x = 0) to 1350 °C (x = 0.06). The composition x = 0.02 sintered at 1400 °C for 5 h exhibits the highest relative density (98.7%) and achieves a relative permittivity (εr) = 7.112, a quality factor multiplied by resonant frequency (Q × f) = 43,569 GHz, and a temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) = − 37.8 ppm/°C. When x > 0.02, secondary-phase precipitation and microstructural inhomogeneity (as evidenced by SEM/EDS) reduce densification and lead to degraded dielectric performance, with Q × f decreasing to 28,800 GHz at x = 0.06. These results clarify the solid-solution window and provide a feasible compositional strategy for lowering firing temperature while maintaining low-permittivity and low-loss performance in SrAl2Si2O8-based microwave dielectrics.