Control of microstructure in TiO2-doped ceramic varistors based in the ZnO-Bi2O3-Sb2O3 system

Typically Titanium oxide is added to the formulation of Bi2O3-doped ZnO based varistors to enhance the growth of ZnO grains, thus allowing their application in low voltage devices. However its incorporation to formulation based on the ZnOBi 2O3-Sb2O3 (ZBS system), characteristic of high voltage applications has not been analyzed jet. In this contribution it has been verified that far from promoting the ZnO grain growth, the incorporation of TiO2 to varistor formulations based on this ZBS ternary system leads to a better control of the varistor microstructure, which in turns causes an appreciable improvement of its electrical response. (Author)