Titanium Ceramics

the ceramic materials based on compounds of titanium, primarily titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and barium titanate (BaTiO₃), that possess the properties of ferroelectrics. The TiO₂ group is characterized by high dielectric constants (ε = 20–170) and low dielectric losses. This group is widely used in the manufacture of a type of capacitor known collectively in Russian as a tikond (from the Russian words for titanium and condenser). Tikondy have a negative temperature coefficient TC_∊ of the dielectric constant, varying between –5 × 10^–5 and –13 × 10^–4 per °C.

In titanium ceramics containing, in addition to TiO₂, oxides of magnesium, aluminum, and zirconium, TC_∊ may also be positive (from –8 × 10^–5 to 3 – 10^–5). These ceramics have stable dielectric constants within a certain temperature range (20°–80°C); in Russian, they are known collectively as termokondy (from the Russian words for thermostable and condenser). Items are manufactured from the TiO₂ ceramics by such methods as pressing and casting. Titanium ceramics are fired at 1250°–1350°C in a weakly oxidizing medium so as to avoid reduction of TiO₂.

Titanium ceramics based on BaTiO₃ are used in the manufacture of piezoelectric elements.