This paper details the investigation of the quality factor (Q), dielectric permittivity (e r ) and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (s f ) of the TE 01d mode of the columbite binary niobate ceramics, with the formula MNb 2 O 6 where M 5 21 cation, in relation to their degree of sintering, microstructure and phase composition. The ceramics were made from a mixed oxide preparative route and fired over a range of temperatures from 8001 to 14001C, and most formed the columbite structure. A comprehensive study was made of the niobates containing the transition metal cations M 5 Mn 21 , Co 21 , Ni 21 , Cu 21 , and Zn 21 , and the group II metal cations M 5 Mg 21 , Ca 21 , Sr 21 , and Ba 21 . All columbite niobates were found to have e r between 17 and 22 and negative s f values between -45 and -76 ppm/1C, and ZnNb 2 O 6 , MgNb 2 O 6 , CaNb 2 O 6 , and CoNb 2 O 6 had high Qf values of 84 500, 79 600, 49 600, and 41 700 GHz, respectively. The Qf of MgNb 2 O 6 was found to rise to over 95 000 GHz when heated at 13001C for 50 h.
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