This study focuses on the modification of the electrical parameters of ZnO‐based varistors during synthesis process. The impact of microstructure and chemical composition on varistor’s properties is discussed. In order to examine the influence of synthesis on reference voltage and the current density–electric field (J–E) characteristics, samples with a typical chemical composition were prepared. Obtained materials were investigated employing both physicochemical and electrical methods. The experimental results indicate that sintering temperature is the key processing parameter. A decrease in sintering temperature results in reduced grain size and, consequently, a higher breakdown voltage. Moreover, it was observed that increasing the milling time of the substrates causes an improvement of homogenization and fragmentation, facilitating their reaction through the mechanosynthesis process. The results also highlighted the crucial role of oxygen in the production of ZnO‐based varistor ceramics. For the sample sintered in an inert atmosphere, the characteristic non‐Ohmic current–voltage behavior typical of varistors was absent.
Wójcik et al. (Thu,) studied this question.