Subsolidus Phase Relations in the System Pd-Ag-O and Application to Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor Electrodes

Pd, Ag, and their alloys are important components of thick-film compositions used for conductors and multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLC) electrodes. The formation of palladium oxide during firing complicates the processing of these materials. The system Pd-Ag-O was investigated in the temperature range in which PdO forms, and a steady-state phase diagram in the range of 773 to 1,173 K in air was constructed. The effect of palladium oxidation on MLC electrodes is discussed.