Sintering Behavior of a LTCC Material and Influence of Silver on the Sintering Behavior

摘要

This paper summarises experience gained in the characterization of LTCC materials for automotive applications. The sintering behaviour of a glass ceramic system, consisting of 60wt% glass and 40wt% alumina, was the subject of the present investigation. This work also reports on the varying heating-rates and addition of silver on the sintering behaviour of the glass ceramic. As a function of the heating-rate there is a remarkable difference in the amount of crystalline and amorphous phases as determined using Rietveld analysis. The second part of this work is an investigation of the influence of silver on the sintering behaviour. At temperatures above 500°C, Ag begins to diffuse into the glassy material, causing the softening point of the glass to decrease. During the sintering process a certain amount of silver oxide will be completely dissolved. This results in an accelerated crystallisation of the silver-doped glass ceramic and remarkable changes in the microstructure.