Electrical behavior against current impulse in ZnO–Pr 6O 11-based varistor ceramics with terbium addition

Abstract

Tb 4O 7 addition effect on electrical behavior against current impulse in the Zn–Pr–Co–Cr-based varistors was investigated. The Tb 4O 7 did have a significant effect on electrical behavior against current impulse. Increasing Tb 4O 7 content improved the clamp ratio ( K), reaching nearly 2 at 1.0 mol%. The best stability against current impulse of 100 A/cm 2 was obtained at 0.25 mol% Tb 4O 7, where % Δ E 1 mA/c m 2 = − 0.8 % and %Δ α = +1.1%. In addition, the varistor doped with 0.5 mol% Tb 4O 7 were no less stable against current impulse than varistor doped with 0.25 mol% Tb 4O 7. Furthermore, the varistor doped with 0.5 mol% Tb exhibited the best surge withstand capability at a current impulse of 900 A. Conclusively, Tb 4O 7 content was optimized at 0.5 mol% in terms of the nonlinearity and surge withstand capability.