Ceramic varistors based on ZnO–SnO2

Model ceramic varistor formulations based on 98% ZnO–SnO2 (plus 2% oxides of Bi, Co and Mn) were prepared by conventional powder processing routes; specimens were sintered at 1150–1275 °C. The product density increased with SnO2 content, but decreased with increase in sintering temperature. The microstructures contained ZnO, Zn2SnO4 spinel and very small bismuth rich phases; with increasing Sn content the spinel became the dominant phase. From I–V measurements, the non-linear coefficients were found to be in the range 24–32. For all compositions, the α values decreased with increasing sintering temperature; the maximum α value was obtained with samples containing 20 mol% SnO2 sintered at 1200 °C. Breakdown fields were in the range 3000–11000 V/cm and increased with increasing tin content. Leakage currents were in the range 1–11 μA. Tin substitution for Zn appears to cause a strong donor effect.