In order to get a more direct corre

In order to get a more direct correlation between the surface modification of BaTiO3 powders and the properties of the final ceramics, we investigated the hydrothermal modification of already pre-sintered and classified BaTiO3 particles with a grain size in the range of 5–10
m [8]. These BaTiO3 seeds were leached in a 0.1 M acetic acid solution at 180 ◦C for 24 h. Analytical electron microscopic investigations revealed the formation of crystallites of anatase on the surface of the BaTiO3 particles. This can be explained by the dissolution of the surface layers of the original BaTiO3 particles and the following recrystallization of the dissolved TiO2 on the surface of the BaTiO3 particles with the Ba ions retaining in solution. The microstructure of the ceramics prepared from these modified pre-sintered BaTiO3 powders is on the one hand characterized by the intended conservation of the grain size of the starting powder in the final ceramic, but on the other hand by incomplete grain-to-grain contacts and a poor relative density of about 90%.