According to the state of the art, piezoceramic multi-layer elements are sintered in air at temperatures of approximately 1100 DEG C or higher. Therefore, only a noble metal having a high melting temperature can be used as the inner electrode. Non-noble metals would oxidize. Therefore, a silver-palladium alloy having up to 40% palladium is normally used. However, such a measure is associated with high material costs. Lower melting temperatures of the inner electrode material, however, also require a ceramic material having correspondingly low sintering temperatures. The invention therefore proposes that an electrically non-conductive sintering additive added be added to the base material, and that the inner electrode comprise silver, preferably pure silver, as the main material component thereof, and an electrically non-conductive material component and/or a metal alloy or metal oxide mixture.

According to the state of the art, piezoceramic multi-layer elements are sintered in air at temperatures of approximately 1100 DEG C or higher. Therefore, only a noble metal having a high melting temperature can be used as the inner electrode. Non-noble metals would oxidize. Therefore, a silver-palladium alloy having up to 40% palladium is normally used. However, such a measure is associated with high material costs. Lower melting temperatures of the inner electrode material, however, also require a ceramic material having correspondingly low sintering temperatures. The invention therefore proposes that an electrically non-conductive sintering additive added be added to the base material, and that the inner electrode comprise silver, preferably pure silver, as the main material component thereof, and an electrically non-conductive material component and/or a metal alloy or metal oxide mixture.

A dielectric has a composition represented by Bi.sub.2xMg.sub.yTi.sub.zO.sub.k. The composition satisfies requirements x0.15, y0.40, z0.25, and x+y+z=1.0. In the composition, k is a value for maintaining electroneutrality.

The problem addressed lies in providing a dielectric composition having a relatively high dielectric constant of 800 or greater when a DC bias of at least 8 V/m is applied, and also in providing a dielectric element employing said dielectric composition, an electronic component, and a laminated electronic component. [Solution] A dielectric composition in which the composition of the main component is in accordance with the following formula (1): (Bi.sub.aNa.sub.bSr.sub.c) (Mg.sub.dTi.sub.1-d)O.sub.3 (1) [where a, b, c and d satisfy the following: 0.10a0.65, 0<b0.45, 0<c0.85, 0<d<0.20, and 0.95a+b+c1.05].

The problem addressed lies in providing a dielectric composition having a relatively high dielectric constant of 800 or greater when a DC bias of at least 8 V/m is applied, and also in providing a dielectric element employing said dielectric composition, an electronic component, and a laminated electronic component. [Solution] A dielectric composition in which the composition of the main component is in accordance with the following formula (1): (Bi.sub.aNa.sub.bSr.sub.c) (Mg.sub.dTi.sub.1-d)O.sub.3 (1) [where a, b, c and d satisfy the following: 0.10a0.65, 0<b0.45, 0<c0.85, 0<d<0.20, and 0.95a+b+c1.05].

The problem addressed lies in providing a dielectric composition having a relatively high dielectric constant of 900 or greater when a DC bias of at least 8 V/ym is applied, and also in providing a dielectric element employing said dielectric composition, an electronic component, and a laminated electronic component.

[Solution] A dielectric composition in which the composition of the main component is in accordance with the following formula (1): (Bi.sub.aNa.sub.bSr.sub.c) (Zn.sub.dTi.sub.1.sub._.sub.d)03 (1) [where a, b, c and d satisfy the following: 0.09a0.58, 0.09b0.42, 0.05c0.84, 0d0.08, and 0.95a+b+c1.05].

The problem addressed lies in providing a dielectric composition having a relatively high dielectric constant of 900 or greater when a DC bias of at least 8 V/ym is applied, and also in providing a dielectric element employing said dielectric composition, an electronic component, and a laminated electronic component.

[Solution] A dielectric composition in which the composition of the main component is in accordance with the following formula (1): (Bi.sub.aNa.sub.bSr.sub.c) (Zn.sub.dTi.sub.1.sub._.sub.d)03 (1) [where a, b, c and d satisfy the following: 0.09a0.58, 0.09b0.42, 0.05c0.84, 0d0.08, and 0.95a+b+c1.05].

There is disclosed a plugged honeycomb structure. A plugged honeycomb structure includes a honeycomb structure body of a segment structure and plugging portions disposed in open ends of cells formed in the honeycomb structure body, the honeycomb structure body has outer segments and inner segments disposed on an inner side than the outer segments in a cross section of the honeycomb structure body, and a material constituting the outer segments has a smaller heat capacity per unit volume than a material constituting the inner segments.

There is disclosed a plugged honeycomb structure. A plugged honeycomb structure includes a honeycomb structure body of a segment structure and plugging portions disposed in open ends of cells formed in the honeycomb structure body, the honeycomb structure body has outer segments and inner segments disposed on an inner side than the outer segments in a cross section of the honeycomb structure body, and a material constituting the outer segments has a smaller heat capacity per unit volume than a material constituting the inner segments.

Provided is a piezoelectric material excellent in piezoelectricity. The piezoelectric material includes a perovskite-type complex oxide represented by the following General Formula (1).
A(Zn.sub.xTi.sub.(1-x)).sub.yM.sub.(1-y)O.sub.3(1)
wherein A represents at least one kind of element containing at least a Bi element and selected from a trivalent metal element; M represents at least one kind of element of Fe, Al, Sc, Mn, Y, Ga, and Yb; x represents a numerical value satisfying 0.4x0.6; and y represents a numerical value satisfying 0.1y0.9.