The thermal decomposition temperature of BaCO3 in the BaTiO3 synthesis at about 900 °C (Figure ) matches the second mass change in the BCZT sample. A distinctly different behavior including a twostep mass change can be observed in BaZrO3. Since no intermediate secondary phases are expected to form, the specific shape of the thermal decomposition profile of BaZrO3 is likely related to the fact that the ZrO2 starting powder has a finer particle size than the BaCO3 powder (Table ) .