Abstract
Microstructure and phase changes during the sintering of ZnO varistors were studied in ZnO-Bi2O3-CoO-Sb2O3 and ZnO-Bi2O3-CoO-Sb2O3-Cr2O3 systems using acanning electron microscopy (SEM) with an energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The spinel phase and the Bi2O3 phase were formed by the decomposition of the pyrochlore phase during heating. The spinel particles (2-4$\mu\textrm{m}$), which were formed both along ther grain boundaries and within the ZnO grain, were always found near the pyrochlore phase. Intergranular phases (Bi2O3 and pyrochlore) were precipitated from the liquid phase during cooling. The Bi2O3 phases were located at the triple (or multiple) point of the ZnO grains. Cr2O3 played a role in decreasing the formation temperature of the spinel phase and Bi2O3 phase during sintering, and inhibited the grain growth.