• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.43 no.11 s.294
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• pp.680-687
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• 2006

An overview is given to optimize the solid state processes toward phase pure and well-crystallized fine particulates of mixed oxides, serving as electroceramic materials in various genres. Elevation of the reactivity and preservation of stoichiometry of the starting mixture are of universal importance. Mechanical activation is versatile for these purposes, particularly when an oxygen atom as a hinge promotes formation of hetero-bridging bonds between dissimilar cationic species prior to calcination. Case studies carried out recently in the author's laboratory are displayed and compared for ferroelectric materials, i.e. $PbMg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3}O_3$ $xPbTiO_3$(PMN-PT), $(1-y)Pb(Zn_xMg{1-x})_{1/3}$ $yNb_{2/3}O_3$ (PZN-PMN), $BaBi_2Ta_2O_9$ (BBT), $Ba(Mg_{1/3}Ta_{2/3})O_3$ (BMT), and ferromagnetics, i.e. M-, Y-, and Z-phases of Ba-hexaferrites.