Acicular particles of KSr2Nb5O15, Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6, and SrNb2O6 were synthesized in the SrO-BaO-Nb2O5 system, using KCl or SrCl(2)(.)6H(2)O salts. In the SrCl(2)(.)6H(2)O + Nb2O5 system, acicular SrNb2O6 particles were formed by a solid state reaction between the salt and Nb2O5. Large, irregularly shaped (Sr-rich) Sr2Nb2O7 particles formed with increasing reaction temperature. and time. Small but finite solubility of SrO in the KCl + SrNb2O6 system favored the formation of acicular KSr2Nb5O15 and blade-like Sr2Nb2O7 particles (at higher temperatures). Uniformly sized, acicular KSr2Nb5O15 particles were easier to reproduce compared to the formation of acicular Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6 and SrNb2O6 particles. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.