Fractal Geometry and Properties of Doped BaTiO<sub>3</sub> Ceramics

Taking into account that the complex grain structure is difficult to describe by using traditional analytical methods, in this study, in order to establish ceramic grain shapes of sintered BaTiO3, new approach on correlation between microstructure and properties of doped BaTiO3 ceramics based on fractal geometry has been developed. BaTiO3 ceramics doped with various dopants (MnCO3, Er2O3, Yb2O3) were prepared using conventional solid state procedure, and were sintered at 1350oC for four hours. The microstructure of sintered specimens was investigated by SEM-5300. Using method of fractal modeling a reconstruction of microstructure configurations, like grains shapes, or intergranular contacts has been successfully done. Furthermore, the area of grains surface was calculated using fractal correction that expresses the irregularity of grains surface through fractal dimension. The presented results, indicate that fractal method for ceramics structure analysis provides a new approach for describing, predicting and modeling the grain shape and relations between the BaTiO3-ceramic structure and dielectrical properties.