Ceramic powders were produced through the precipitation technique from colloidal solutions of metallic oxides and hydroxides. Zinc salts were used in the form of chloride, nitrate and acetate of zinc. The influence of the anion type of the precursor salts on the characteristics of the produced ceramics was investigated. Thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the ceramic powders obtained. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, density analysis, and electrical characterization were used to evaluate the influence of the anion type of the zinc salts precursor on the electrical and microstructural characteristics of the varistor ceramics produced. It was concluded that the ceramics produced using zinc acetate as the main precursor presented superior sinterability characteristics than those of ceramics produced with the use of zinc nitrate or chloride, and this influenced its performance as a varistor.
Varistor ceramics; ceramic powder synthesis; sintering
