Multilayer ceramic electronic components

Abstract

To provide a multilayer ceramic electronic component in which a protective effect of side margin portions is less likely to be impaired.SOLUTION: A ceramic electronic component includes a multilayer body and a pair of side margin portions. The multilayer body includes: a plurality of internal electrodes stacked in a first axis direction; and a pair of side faces perpendicular to a second axis that is orthogonal to a first axis, ends of the internal electrodes in the second axis direction being positioned to be aligned within a range of 0.5 μm in the second axis direction. The pair of side margin portions includes a ceramic polycrystal as a main component and a plurality of glass grains dispersed in the polycrystal, a total volume ratio of the glass grains with respect to the polycrystal being 1% or more and 20% or less. The side margin portions cover the pair of side faces, respectively. A median diameter of the glass grains is 0.20 μm or more and less than 0.75 μm, and is 90% or more of a median diameter of crystal grains constituting the polycrystal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a multilayer ceramic electronic component to which a side margin portion is attached later.

Background Art

[0002] A technique of attaching a side margin portion during the manufacturing process of a multilayer ceramic capacitor is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This technique is advantageous for miniaturization and large capacitance of the multilayer ceramic capacitor because the thin side margin portion can surely cover both end portions of a plurality of internal electrodes.

[0003] As an example, in the manufacturing method of the multilayer ceramic capacitor described in Patent Document 1, a laminated sheet in which ceramic sheets printed with internal electrodes are laminated is cut, and a plurality of laminates having a cut surface where the internal electrodes are exposed as a side surface are produced. Then, by punching out the ceramic sheet on the side surface of the laminate, side margin portions are formed on both side surfaces of the laminate.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in a multilayer ceramic capacitor in which the side margin portion is formed thin, cracks generated from the outer surface of the side margin portion are likely to progress to the side surface of the laminate. As a result, in the multilayer ceramic capacitor, moisture easily penetrates into the side surface of the laminate through cracks penetrating the side margin portion, and insulation failure is likely to occur.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, the object of the present invention is to provide a multilayer ceramic electronic component in which the protective effect of the side margin portion is less likely to be impaired. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, a multilayer ceramic electronic component according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a laminate and a pair of side margin portions. The laminate has a plurality of internal electrodes stacked in the first axial direction, and a pair of sides perpendicular to a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, with the ends of the plurality of internal electrodes in the second axial direction aligned within 0.5 μm in the second axial direction. The pair of side margin portions described above mainly consist of a polycrystalline ceramic material, and contain a plurality of glass particles dispersed within the polycrystalline material, with a total volume fraction of 1% to 20% relative to the polycrystalline material, covering the pair of side surfaces. The median diameter of the above-mentioned multiple glass particles is 0.20 μm or more and less than 0.75 μm, and is 90% or more of the median diameter of the multiple crystal particles constituting the above-mentioned polycrystalline material.

[0008] In this configuration, glass particles of equal or greater size to the crystalline particles constituting the polycrystalline material are dispersed within the polycrystalline material in the side margin area. This makes it easier for cracks that occur in the side margin area to propagate, as the glass particles inhibit their growth. As a result, large cracks are less likely to occur in the side margin area, thus preserving the protective effect on the sides of the laminate.

[0009] In the cross-section of the pair of side margins described above, the 1 μm section is divided into a grid pattern. 2 The average number of glass particles observed in each of the multiple regions may be between one and two. The dimension of the pair of side margin portions in the second axial direction may be 20 μm or less. The above polycrystalline material may have a perovskite structure containing barium and titanium. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] As described above, the present invention provides a multilayer ceramic electronic component in which the protective effect of the side margin portion is less likely to be impaired. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a multilayer ceramic capacitor according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of the multilayer ceramic capacitor shown above, along the line A-A' in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of the multilayer ceramic capacitor shown above, along the line B-B' in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the microstructure of the side margin portion of the multilayer ceramic capacitor described above. [Figure 5] This is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the microstructure of the side margin area in a comparative example. [Figure 6] This is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the distribution of glass particles in the side margin portion of the above-mentioned multilayer ceramic capacitor. [Figure 7] This is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the distribution of glass particles in the side margin portion of the above-mentioned multilayer ceramic capacitor. [Figure 8] This flowchart shows the manufacturing method for the multilayer ceramic capacitor described above. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view of the unfired laminate prepared in step S01 of the above manufacturing method. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view of the unfired ceramic body obtained in step S02 of the above manufacturing method. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, the multilayer ceramic capacitor 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis that are orthogonal to each other are shown as appropriate. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis define a fixed coordinate system fixed to the multilayer ceramic capacitor 10.

[0013] [Configuration of Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor 10] FIGS. 1 to 3 are diagrams showing a multilayer ceramic capacitor 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multilayer ceramic capacitor 10. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the multilayer ceramic capacitor 10 taken along the line A-A' in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the multilayer ceramic capacitor 10 taken along the line B-B' in FIG. 1.

[0014] The multilayer ceramic capacitor 10 includes a ceramic body 11, a first external electrode 14, and a second external electrode 15. The ceramic body 11 is configured as a hexahedron having a pair of end faces orthogonal to the X-axis, a pair of side faces orthogonal to the Y-axis, and a pair of main faces orthogonal to the Z-axis. The external electrodes 14 and 15 cover a pair of end faces of the ceramic body 11.

[0015] All of the pair of end faces, the pair of side faces, and the pair of main faces of the ceramic body 11 are configured as flat surfaces. The flat surface according to the present embodiment does not necessarily have to be a strictly flat surface as long as it is recognized as flat when viewed as a whole. For example, it also includes a surface having minute irregularities on the surface or a gentle curved shape existing within a predetermined range.

[0016] The external electrodes 14 and 15 face each other in the X-axis direction with the ceramic body 11 interposed therebetween. The external electrodes 14 and 15 each extend from each end face of the ceramic body 11 to the main face and the side face. As a result, in the external electrodes 14 and 15, both a cross-section parallel to the X-Z plane and a cross-section parallel to the X-Y plane are U-shaped.

[0017] The shapes of the external electrodes 14 and 15 are not limited to those shown in Figure 1. For example, the external electrodes 14 and 15 may extend from both end faces of the ceramic body 11 to only one main face, and their cross-section parallel to the XZ plane may be L-shaped. Furthermore, the external electrodes 14 and 15 do not have to extend to either main face or side face.

[0018] The external electrodes 14 and 15 are formed from a good electrical conductor. Examples of good electrical conductors forming the external electrodes 14 and 15 include metals or alloys whose main components are copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), tin (Sn), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), silver (Ag), and gold (Au). In this embodiment, the main component refers to the component with the highest content ratio.

[0019] The ceramic body 11 comprises a laminate 16 and a pair of side margin portions 17. The laminate 16 constitutes a pair of main surfaces and a pair of end surfaces of the ceramic body 11 and has a pair of side surfaces F perpendicular to the Y-axis. The pair of side margin portions 17 each cover the pair of side surfaces F of the laminate 16 and constitute a pair of side surfaces of the ceramic body 11.

[0020] The laminate 16 has a configuration in which a plurality of flat ceramic layers extending along the XY plane are stacked in the Z-axis direction. The laminate 16 has a volume-forming section 18 and a pair of cover sections 19. The pair of cover sections 19 cover the volume-forming section 18 from above and below in the Z-axis direction and constitute a pair of main surfaces of the ceramic substrate 11.

[0021] The capacitance forming section 18 has multiple sheet-like first and second internal electrodes 12 and 13 arranged between multiple ceramic layers and extending along the XY plane. The internal electrodes 12 and 13 are arranged alternately along the Z-axis direction. In other words, in the capacitance forming section 18, the internal electrodes 12 and 13 face each other in the Z-axis direction with the ceramic layers in between.

[0022] The first internal electrode 12 is drawn out to the end face covered by the first external electrode 14. On the other hand, the second internal electrode 13 is drawn out to the end face covered by the second external electrode 15. As a result, the first internal electrode 12 is connected only to the first external electrode 14, and the second internal electrode 13 is connected only to the second external electrode 15.

[0023] The internal electrodes 12 and 13 are formed across the entire width of the capacitance forming section 18 in the Y-axis direction, with both ends in the Y-axis direction positioned on both sides F of the laminate 16. As a result, in the ceramic substrate 11, the positions of the ends of the multiple internal electrodes 12 and 13 in the Y-axis direction are aligned within a range of 0.5 μm or less in the Y-axis direction on both sides F of the laminate 16.

[0024] The internal electrodes 12 and 13 are formed from a good electrical conductor. Typical good electrical conductors forming the internal electrodes 12 and 13 include nickel (Ni), but other examples include metals or alloys mainly composed of copper (Cu), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), silver (Ag), and gold (Au).

[0025] With this configuration, when a voltage is applied between the first external electrode 14 and the second external electrode 15 in the multilayer ceramic capacitor 10, a voltage is applied to multiple ceramic layers between the first internal electrode 12 and the second internal electrode 13. As a result, the multilayer ceramic capacitor 10 stores a charge corresponding to the voltage between the first external electrode 14 and the second external electrode 15.

[0026] In the ceramic body 11 of the multilayer ceramic capacitor 10, the multiple ceramic layers constituting the capacitance forming portion 18, the pair of cover portions 19, and the pair of side margin portions 17 are all mainly composed of polycrystalline dielectric ceramics. In the ceramic body 11, it is preferable that the ceramics constituting any of the above parts have the same composition system.

[0027] In the ceramic substrate 11, high dielectric ceramics are used to increase the capacitance of each ceramic layer in the capacitance forming section 18. Examples of high dielectric ceramics include perovskite materials containing barium (Ba) and titanium (Ti), such as barium titanate (BaTiO3).

[0028] The ceramic layer may also be composed of a system of materials such as strontium titanate (SrTiO3), calcium titanate (CaTiO3), magnesium titanate (MgTiO3), calcium zirconate (CaZrO3), calcium zirconate titanate (Ca(Zr,Ti)O3), barium zirconate (BaZrO3), and titanium dioxide (TiO2).

[0029] Furthermore, in the ceramic body 11, the side margin portion 17 contains multiple glass particles G. The glass particles G are mainly amorphous particles, and typically contain silicon (Si) as the main component. In addition, the laminate 16 of the ceramic body 11 may also contain a smaller amount of glass particles G than the side margin portion 17.

[0030] Figure 4 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the microstructure of the side margin portion 17. In Figure 4, multiple crystalline grains C constituting the polycrystalline material are shown as a low-density dot pattern, and glass grains G are shown as a high-density dot pattern. The side margin portion 17 has a characteristic microstructure in which the glass grains G are equal to or larger than the crystalline grains C.

[0031] Figure 4 shows a crack that has formed in the side margin 17 and is attempting to propagate in the direction indicated by the thick arrow. Glass particles G are present in the crack propagation path shown in Figure 4. Therefore, in the state shown in Figure 4, energy that acts as a driving force for crack propagation is applied to the glass particles G.

[0032] The highly viscous glass particles G have the effect of absorbing energy applied from cracks. In particular, in the side margin section 17, the glass particles G are large, so they can sufficiently absorb the energy applied from cracks. As a result, in the side margin section 17, the crack stops propagating because it loses its propulsion force in the glass particles G.

[0033] Figure 5 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the microstructure of the side margin portion 17a according to a comparative example of this embodiment. Unlike the side margin portion 17 according to this embodiment, the glass particles G are significantly smaller than the crystal particles C, and the glass particles G are located at the grain boundaries or grain boundary triple points of the crystal particles C.

[0034] In the side margin region 17a, the small glass particles G cannot adequately absorb the energy applied from the crack, and energy is transferred to the surrounding crystal grains C and grain boundaries via the glass particles G. As a result, in the side margin region 17a, crack propagation does not stop at the glass particles G, and the crack tends to propagate beyond the glass particles G.

[0035] Thus, in the side margin portion 17 according to this embodiment, the glass particles G have a size equal to or greater than that of the crystal particles C, which effectively prevents crack propagation by the glass particles G, unlike the side margin portion 17a in the comparative example. As a result, the occurrence of large cracks can be suppressed in the side margin portion 17.

[0036] In the side margin portion 17, the median diameter of the glass particles G must be 0.20 μm or larger, and must be 90% or larger of the median diameter of the crystal particles C constituting the polycrystalline material. This ensures that the side margin portion 17 can adequately absorb the energy of the cracks using the glass particles G.

[0037] The median diameter is defined as the median of particle sizes within a predetermined field of view in a cross-section, and can be determined, for example, in a rectangular field of view of 30 μm × 40 μm in the cross-section of the side margin portion 17. The particle size of each particle can be obtained as the equivalent diameter of a circle, which is calculated as the diameter of a circle with an area equal to the cross-section of that particle.

[0038] Furthermore, in the side margin portion 17, if the glass particles G are too large, the flexibility becomes excessive, making it difficult to maintain a normal shape, such as impairing the flatness of the outer surface during the manufacturing process. For this reason, it is preferable to keep the median diameter of the glass particles G in the side margin portion 17 to less than 0.75 μm.

[0039] Furthermore, in the side margin portion 17 according to this embodiment, by uniformly dispersing a sufficient amount of glass particles G in the polycrystalline material, the probability of glass particles G being present in the crack propagation path can be increased significantly. As a result, the propagation of cracks that occur in the side margin portion 17 can be more reliably inhibited by the glass particles G.

[0040] In particular, the side margin portion 17 prevents cracks originating from the outer surface from penetrating in the Y-axis direction and reaching the side surface F of the laminate 16. As a result, the multilayer ceramic capacitor 10 can prevent insulation failure caused by moisture entering the side surface F of the laminate 16 through cracks in the side margin portion 17.

[0041] In multilayer ceramic capacitors 10, cracks penetrating in the Y-axis direction are more likely to occur in the side margin portion 17 where the dimension in the Y-axis direction is smaller. Therefore, in multilayer ceramic capacitors 10, the effect of preventing insulation failure is more effectively obtained when the dimension of the side margin portion 17 in the Y-axis direction is 20 μm or less.

[0042] Specifically, in the side margin portion 17 according to this embodiment, the ratio of the total volume of the portion containing glass particles G to the total volume of the portion containing polycrystalline material (total volume fraction) must be 1% or more. This makes it possible to sufficiently increase the probability that glass particles G are present in the crack propagation path in the side margin portion 17.

[0043] The total volume fraction of glass particles G relative to the polycrystalline material in the side margin portion 17 can be estimated from the particle size of the glass particles G present within a predetermined field of view in the cross-section of the side margin portion 17. For example, this can be determined from a photograph of a 30 μm × 40 μm rectangular field of view of the cross-section of the side margin portion 17 taken with a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

[0044] Specifically, using the area measured for each glass particle G with a maximum diameter of 0.05 μm or more from the cross-sectional photograph of the side margin portion 17, the diameter of each glass particle G is calculated as the equivalent diameter of a circle, and the spherical volume of each glass particle G is calculated from the obtained diameter. This gives the average volume of the glass particles G. Next, the area is 1 μm 2 The number of glass particles G in the entire side margin 17 can be roughly estimated from the number of glass particles G in the square region. The total volume can then be calculated by multiplying the average volume and number of glass particles G. The total volume fraction of the glass particles G can then be determined as the ratio of the total volume of the glass particles G to the volume of the polycrystalline material obtained by subtracting the total volume of the glass particles G from the total volume of the side margin 17.

[0045] Furthermore, in the side margin portion 17, if the total volume ratio of glass particles G to the polycrystalline material is too large, the flexibility becomes too high, making it difficult to maintain a normal shape, such as impairing the flatness of the outer surface during the manufacturing process. For this reason, it is preferable to keep the ratio of the total volume of glass particles G to the polycrystalline material in the side margin portion 17 to 20% or less.

[0046] Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a method for evaluating the frequency of glass particles G present in the side margin portion 17. Figure 6 shows multiple square regions R divided in a grid pattern on a cross-section of the side margin portion 17. The area of ​​each region R is 1 μm². 2 Multiple regions R can be arranged, for example, in a 4x7 grid.

[0047] Figure 7 shows the number of glass particles G observed in each region R within the same field of view as in Figure 6. Note that even if only a portion of the glass particles G are observed in each region R, they are counted as one particle. In this embodiment, the frequency of glass particles G in the side margin 17 is evaluated by the average number of glass particles G across multiple regions R.

[0048] Specifically, in the side margin portion 17 according to this embodiment, the average number of glass particles G in all arranged regions R is 1 μm. 2 It is preferable that there be one to two particles per area. In addition, in the side margin portion 17, the glass particles G in all arranged regions R are 1 μm 2 It is preferable that the standard deviation of the number of items per unit is 0.30 or less.

[0049] As a result, in the side margin portion 17, high dispersibility of glass particles G is obtained in the polycrystalline material composed of crystal particles C, and the frequency of glass particles G is appropriately configured. Therefore, in the side margin portion 17, the probability of glass particles G being present in the crack propagation path can be sufficiently increased while suppressing the increase in flexibility due to glass particles G.

[0050] [Manufacturing method for multilayer ceramic capacitor 10] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the manufacturing method of the multilayer ceramic capacitor 10 according to this embodiment. Figures 9 and 10 show the manufacturing process of the multilayer ceramic capacitor 10. The manufacturing method of the multilayer ceramic capacitor 10 will be described below in reference to Figure 8, with appropriate reference to Figures 9 and 10.

[0051] (Step S01: Laminate preparation) In step S01, an unfired laminate 16, as shown in Figure 9, is prepared. The unfired laminate 16 can be made using a laminated sheet in which multiple large ceramic sheets are stacked in the Z-axis direction. A conductive paste for forming internal electrodes 12 and 13 is patterned on the ceramic sheet corresponding to the volume forming section 18.

[0052] The unfired laminate 16 is obtained by cutting the laminated sheet along the XZ and YZ planes. For cutting the laminated sheet, a cutting device equipped with, for example, a push-cutting blade or a rotary blade can be used. As a result, the laminate 16 has a pair of side surfaces F as cut surfaces where both ends of the internal electrodes 12 and 13 in the Y-axis direction are aligned.

[0053] (Step S02: Formation of side margins) In step S02, a pair of unfired side margins 17 are provided on each of the pair of side surfaces F of the unfired laminate 16 fabricated in step S01. As a result, an unfired ceramic body 11 is obtained in which a pair of side surfaces are formed by the unfired side margins 17, as shown in Figure 6.

[0054] For the unfired side margin portion 17, a ceramic slurry mixed with additives for forming glass particles G can be used. The total volume fraction of glass particles G relative to the polycrystalline material in the side margin portion 17 after firing can be controlled by the amount of additives added to the ceramic slurry.

[0055] For example, glass powder or glass frit can be used as additives to be added to the ceramic slurry. The particle size of the glass particles G in the side margin portion 17 after firing can be adjusted by the particle size of the glass powder or glass frit used as an additive to the ceramic slurry.

[0056] The side margin portion 17 can be formed by any method. For example, the side margin portion 17 can be formed using a ceramic sheet obtained by forming a ceramic slurry into a sheet. In this case, the ceramic sheet can be punched out on the side F of the laminate 16, for example, or it can be pre-cut and attached to the side F of the laminate 16.

[0057] Furthermore, in order to form the side margin portion 17, an unformed ceramic slurry can be used as is, instead of a pre-formed ceramic sheet. In this case, the ceramic slurry can be applied to the side surface F of the laminate 16 by, for example, immersing the side surface F of the laminate 16.

[0058] (Step S03: Firing) In step S03, the ceramic body 11 obtained in step S02 is fired to produce the ceramic body 11 of the multilayer ceramic capacitor 10 shown in Figures 1-3. In step S03, for example, the particle size and dispersion of the glass particles G in the side margin portion 17 after firing can be adjusted by the firing temperature.

[0059] For example, Table 1 shows the median diameters of crystalline particles C and glass particles G in the side margin portion 17 after firing, the ratio of the median diameter of glass particles G to crystalline particles C, and the 1 μm of glass particles G in multiple regions R, when the firing temperature is changed for an unfired ceramic body 11 with a common configuration. 2 The average number of items per unit is shown.

[0060] [Table 1]

[0061] As shown in Table 1, by changing the firing temperature, the median diameter of the crystalline particles C and glass particles G in the side margin portion 17 after firing, the ratio of the median diameter of glass particles G to that of crystalline particles C, and the 1 μm of glass particles G in multiple regions R are changed.2 It can be seen that the average number of items per unit can be made different for each case.

[0062] (Step S04: External electrode formation) In step S04, external electrodes 14 and 15 are formed on both ends of the ceramic body 11 fired in step S03 in the X-axis direction, thereby fabricating the multilayer ceramic capacitor 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3. The method for forming the external electrodes 14 and 15 in step S04 can be arbitrarily selected from known methods.

[0063] As a result of the above, the multilayer ceramic capacitor 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3 is completed. In this manufacturing method, a side margin portion 17 is formed on the side surface F of the laminate 16 in which the internal electrodes 12 and 13 are exposed, so that the positions of the ends of the multiple internal electrodes 12 and 13 in the ceramic body 11 in the Y-axis direction are aligned within a range of 0.5 μm or less in the Y-axis direction.

[0064] [Examples and Comparative Examples] As examples and comparative examples of the above embodiment, samples of multilayer ceramic capacitors with different side margin configurations were prepared. The size of the samples for Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 was all 0603 size, with dimensions of 0.6 mm in the X-axis direction, 0.3 mm in the Y-axis direction, and 0.3 mm in the Z-axis direction.

[0065] For the side margins of the samples prepared for Examples 1-3 and Comparative Examples 1-5, the median diameters of crystalline particles C and glass particles G, the ratio of the median diameter of glass particles G to crystalline particles C, the total volume fraction of glass particles G relative to the polycrystalline material, and the average number of glass particles G in multiple regions R were determined. Table 2 shows these results.

[0066] [Table 2]

[0067] Examples 1 to 3 all have the configuration of the above embodiment. On the other hand, Comparative Examples 1 and 2 differ from the above embodiment in that the ratio of the median diameter of glass particles G to crystalline particles C is less than 90%, the total volume fraction of glass particles G to polycrystalline material is less than 1% in Comparative Examples 1 and 3, and the total volume fraction of glass particles G to polycrystalline material exceeds 20% in Comparative Examples 4 and 5.

[0068] The appearance and insulation failure rate were evaluated for each sample related to Examples 1-3 and Comparative Examples 1-5. For appearance, the shape of the side margin portion was visually observed for each sample related to each example and comparative example. Samples that were normal were evaluated as "A," and samples that were not normal were evaluated as "B."

[0069] In evaluating the insulation failure rate, 100 samples each for each example and comparative example were subjected to a humidity resistance test, held for 100 hours in an environment of 85°C and 85% humidity. For each example and comparative example, the insulation failure rate was defined as the percentage of samples out of 100 that had an insulation resistance of less than 1 MΩ after the humidity resistance test. Table 3 shows these results.

[0070] [Table 3]

[0071] As shown in Table 3, all samples in Examples 1 to 3 received an "A" rating for appearance, indicating that normal-shaped side margins were obtained. Furthermore, all samples in Examples 1 to 3 had an insulation failure rate of 0%, meaning that not a single sample had an insulation resistance of less than 1 MΩ after the humidity resistance test.

[0072] In contrast, in Comparative Examples 1 to 3, many samples exhibited insulation resistance of less than 1 MΩ after the humidity resistance test. This is thought to be because, in Comparative Examples 1 to 3, the ratio of the median diameter of the glass particles G to the crystal particles C, and the total volume fraction of the glass particles G relative to the polycrystalline material, were small, resulting in insufficient effect from the glass particles G.

[0073] Furthermore, in Comparative Examples 4 and 5, the appearance evaluation was "B" in both cases, and a normal-shaped side margin portion could not be obtained. This is thought to be because, in the samples related to Comparative Examples 4 and 5, where the total volume fraction of glass particles G relative to the polycrystalline material exceeded 20%, the flexibility of the side margin portion was too high, preventing it from maintaining a normal shape.

[0074] [Other embodiments] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be modified in various ways.

[0075] For example, in the above embodiment, a multilayer ceramic capacitor 10 was described as an example of a multilayer ceramic electronic component, but the present invention is applicable to multilayer ceramic electronic components in general. Examples of such multilayer ceramic electronic components include chip varistors, chip thermistors, and multilayer inductors. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0076] 10…Multilayer ceramic capacitor 11…Ceramic base 12,13…Internal electrode 14,15...External electrode 16…Laminate 17... Side margin section 18...Capacity forming part 19...Cover part F...Side of the laminate C...Crystal particles G...glass particles

Claims

1. A laminate having a plurality of internal electrodes stacked in the first axial direction, and a pair of sides perpendicular to a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, wherein the ends of the plurality of internal electrodes in the second axial direction are aligned within 0.5 μm in the second axial direction, The material mainly consists of a polycrystalline ceramic material, and includes a plurality of glass particles dispersed in the polycrystalline material, with a total volume fraction of 1.7% to 20% relative to the polycrystalline material, and a pair of side margin portions covering the pair of sides, It is equipped with, The median diameter of the plurality of glass particles is 0.20 μm or more and 0.74 μm or less, and is 133% or more of the median diameter of the plurality of crystal particles constituting the polycrystalline material. Multilayer ceramic electronic components.

2. A multilayer ceramic electronic component according to claim 1, In the cross-section of the pair of side margins, the 1 μm is divided into a grid pattern. ２ The average number of glass particles observed in each of the multiple regions is between one and two. Multilayer ceramic electronic components.

3. A multilayer ceramic electronic component according to claim 1 or 2, The dimension of the pair of side margin portions in the second axial direction is 20 μm or less. Multilayer ceramic electronic components.

4. A multilayer ceramic electronic component according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The aforementioned polycrystalline material has a perovskite structure containing barium and titanium. Multilayer ceramic electronic components.

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