MANUFACTURE OF VARISTORS COMPRISING A PASSIVATION LAYER

摘要

A method (1) of manufacturing an electronic component comprising an electro-ceramic body and conductive terminations is disclosed. The method (1) includes the steps of providing (10) an electro-ceramic body, applying (11) a termination material to the body, applying a passivation material, firing to cure the termination material to provide terminations and plating (15) the terminations. The component is fired (12) before application of the passivation material in a first stage to achieve a porous termination material of sufficient strength for subsequent processing. The passivation material is applied (13) to the porous passivation material and the body after said first stage firing. The component is subsequently fired (14) in a second stage after application of the passivation material, said second stage firing having parameters causing at least some of the passivation material overlying the terminations to diffuse into the porous termination material while leaving substantially intact the passivation material over the body. The termination material further comprises a sinter inhibitor (Pt, at 1.5 wt%) to assist with control of porosity of the termination material during first stage firing.