Abstract
Based on a typical ZnO varistor composition (97·0 mol.-% ZnO, 1·0 mol.-% Bi2O3, 1·0 mol.-% Sb2O3, 0·5 mol.-% MnO and 0·5 mol.-% Co3O4), phase development of the ZnO varistor during sintering has been investigated using in situ high temperature X-ray diffraction up to 900°C, and conventional ambient X-ray diffraction for samples sintered at 900°C to 1250°C. The results indicate that α-Bi2O3 can be detected until 700°C; the pyrochlore phase can be detected in the samples heat treated at 700°C and up to 1250°C; the spinel phase is present at and >900°C. However, the main phases in the varistor are established by 950°C. By this temperature, the essential microstructure features are formed, and the varistors exhibit non-linear electrical properties, with a non-linear coefficient α of 35 and breakdown field of 8000 V cm−1. With increasing sintering temperature, both the α value and breakdown field decrease.
Acknowledgements
P. Poosimma gratefully acknowledges the support of The Ministry of Science and Technology, Thailand. J. Fan acknowledges support from The Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC 51072238).