Effect of Pile Irradiation on the Dielectric Constant of Ceramic BaTiO3

Abstract

A specimen of ceramic BaTiO₃, made of reagent‐grade materials at a calcination temperature of 1250°C, was exposed to pile irradiation in the amount of nvt=2.1·10²⁰ at Hanford, Washington. The original ceramic showed a peak in the dielectric constant versus temperature curve usually ascribed to ferroelectricity. After irradiation this peak essentially disappeared, and the dielectric constant was reduced to a nearly constant value over the temperature range 30°C to 140°C. This reduced value is about half of the room‐temperature dielectric constant as determined before irradiation. Evidence is mentioned for a small residual peak in the dielectric constant of the irradiated specimen.