Sodium antimonate (NaSbO₃) is used in the production of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), primarily as a ceramic dielectric material. MLCCs are essential components in electronic circuits, used for storing and regulating electrical energy.
Here’s how sodium antimonate is utilized in the production of MLCCs:
Dielectric Material
Sodium antimonate is a ceramic material with excellent dielectric properties, including high permittivity (dielectric constant) and low dielectric loss. These properties make it well-suited for use as a dielectric material in MLCCs. Dielectric materials in capacitors serve to store and release electrical energy efficiently.
Layering Process
MLCCs are constructed using a layering process, where thin layers of dielectric material are interleaved with layers of conductive material. The dielectric layers serve as insulators between the conductive layers, allowing the capacitor to store electrical charge.
Cofiring
During the manufacturing process of MLCCs, the ceramic layers containing sodium antimonate are formed and then cofired with the electrode layers at high temperatures. Cofiring ensures proper bonding between the ceramic and electrode layers, resulting in a reliable and stable capacitor structure.
Properties Optimization
Manufacturers can adjust the composition and processing parameters of the ceramic material containing sodium antimonate to optimize the electrical properties of MLCCs. This includes controlling factors such as grain size, porosity, and dielectric constant to achieve desired performance characteristics, such as capacitance values, voltage ratings, and stability over temperature and frequency ranges.
Miniaturization and High Capacitance
MLCCs are favoured for their compact size and high capacitance values relative to their volume. The use of sodium antimonate-based dielectric materials allows MLCC manufacturers to produce capacitors with high capacitance density and excellent electrical performance, meeting the demands of modern electronic devices for miniaturization and increased functionality.
Overall, sodium antimonate plays a critical role in the production of MLCCs by serving as a high-performance dielectric material that enables the efficient storage and regulation of electrical energy in electronic circuits.