INVESTIGATION OF THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY AND HUMIDITY SENSITIVITY CHARACTERISTICS OF BaTiO3 CERAMICS WITH PMMA ADDITIVE

Abstract

Humidity sensing is a requirement for human comfort and several industrial processes. There are two main types of humidity-sensing mechanisms. One of them is the protonic sensor which utilizes ionic conductivity due to water physisorption or capillary condensation in micropores. The semiconductor sensors use the changes in electronic conductivity due to water chemisorption. In this study, an ionic type of sensor was fabricated. Barium titanate based ceramic humidity sensors made with PMMA(Polymethyl metacrylate) as the PFA (Pore-forming agent) were investigated. All compositions included 0.18 wt. % of La2O3 and three different PMMA contents. The green compacts were heated at 1200-1500 degrees C for 2-6 h. in air and then furnace cooled. The fundamental characteristics of ceramic humidity sensors, electrical conductivity and humidity sensitivity were determined and discussed in relation to microstructural features, porosity, phase analysis and grain size data. The experimental results of conductivity measurements were evaluated in terms of practical sensor applications.