KEY ENGINEERING MATERIALS

Abstract

Zinc oxide varistor has classically been prepared by conventional ceramic techniques. In this study, ZnO varistor powder with homogeneous distribution grain size and shape is prepared by both controlled chemical process and conventional ceramic process techniques. Submicrometer particles consisting of an intimate mix of ZnO, alpha-Zn7Sb2O12 spinel phase and beta-Bi2O3 phases resulted from the process. The activation energy for grain growth was determined as 170 kJ/mol.