Abstract Grain size and density parameters have been investigated in SrO added Tungsten Bronze (TB) type Ferroelectric Barium Sodium Niobate (BNN) ceramic as a function of sintering time and sintering temperature. Addition of SrO has greatly improved the density of the system. The sample BNN with 3% SrO has showed above 95% of theoretical density. Scanning Electron Micrographs revealed normal grain growth in the present study. Activation energies for the formation of grain growth and densification in all the samples have been estimated and found lying in the range of 50-60 kcal/mole. The results are discussed in the light of present understanding. Keywords: Strontium Oxide, Grain Growth, Densification, Activation Energy. Introduction Ceramic Barium Sodium Niobate (BNN) has been emphasized by many workers as the most promising candidate material for electro-optic and non-linear optic applications The present study of sintering behavior and grain growth of BNN with the addition of SrO was taken up with the aim of improving upon its sinterability. Experimental The material was prepared employing usual ceramic fabrication techniques. Reagent grade BaCO 3 , Na 2 CO 3, Nb 2 O 5 and SrCO 3 in appropriate amounts were wet mixed using agate mortar and pestle and the resulting mixture was dried in an oven. The powder was pre-fired overnight at 950 0 C in air atmosphere. The pre-fired powder was dry milled again for few hours to get a particle size of approximately 1 m. The powder was then sieved and granulated by means of PVA (Poly Vinyl Alcohol) as binder and pressed at 8000 psi in the form of discs (10 mm dia and 2mm thickness). The discs so obtained were fired at temperatures ranging from 1150-1250 0 C in air for different times. Density measurements were done by water immersion technique (ASTM-71) and for microstructure observations polished discs were used. Results X-Ray diffraction Analysis. The X-ray diffractograms of pure and SrO doped samples of BNN were obtained. Pure BNN Sample exhibited single phase having a tetragonal TB structure with a = 12.451Å, c= 3.998 Å which compares favorably with the published dat
