Nonlinear current-voltage properties and accelerated aging behavior of ZPCCL-based varistors with sintering temperature

The nonlinear electrical properties and accelerated aging behavior of the varistors, which are composed of ZnO-Pr6O11-CoO-Cr2O3-La2O3 (ZPCCL)-based ceramics, were investigated for different sintering temperatures. The increase of sintering temperature led to more densified ceramics, whereas it decreased the nonlinear properties and varistor voltage. The highest nonlinearity of varistors was obtained from sintering temperature of 1240 °C, in which the nonlinear coefficient is 79.4 and the leakage current is 0.3 μA. However, the highest stability of varistors was obtained from sintering temperature of 1260 °C, in which the %ΔV1 mA is + 1.9%, the %Δα is − 10.6%, and the %ΔIL is + 20% for stress state of 95 V1 mA/150 °C/24 h.