Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
The aim of the present work was to prepare a monolithic varistor-capacitor element from a commercial ZnO-based varistor and a relaxor based on lead-magnesium niobate. The materials were chosen on the basis of similar sintering temperatures, in the range from 900 to 1000°C. “Sandwich”-structured composite-pellets were uniaxially dry-pressed and sintered at the conditions that lead to shrinkages observed on the pellets of separately sintered materials. The microstructural analysis of the ‘sandwich’ interface revealed a good contact between the two parts without a noticeable interaction layer. Selected functional properties of both varistor and relaxor parts were adequate