Study at the Bi2O3-rich region of the ZnO-Bi2O3 system

Ceramic materials based in the ZnO- Bi2C3 system have their principal application as varistors. The binary system ZnO-Bi2O3 is specially relevant to the formation of the microstructure responsable of the varistor behaviour. The study of the different equilibrium phases at high temperatures at the Bi2O3-rich region of the ZnO-Bi2O3 Will allow a correct understanding of the microstructural development. Equilibrium phases have been analyzed by XRD, SEM and DTA. Different temperature treatments of samples formulated in the Bi2O3 rich region of the ZnO-Bi2O3 binary system have allowed to determine the phase 19Bi(2)O(3).ZnO as the equilibrium one instead of the 24Bi(2)O(3).ZnO phase.