Focus is on zinc oxide itself, which is a base material for a zinc oxide varistor (laminated varistor), wherein specified quantities of additives are added to a zinc oxide powder having a crystallite size of 20 to 50 nm, grain diameter of 15 to 60 nm found using the specific surface area BET method, untamped density of 0.38 to 0.50 g/cm.sup.3, and tap density of 0.50 to 1.00 g/cm.sup.3. This allows securing of uniformity, high compactness, and high electrical conductivity of a zinc oxide sintered body, and provision of a zinc oxide varistor having high surge resistance.

The present invention is directed to a varistor comprising a dielectric material comprising a sintered ceramic composed of zinc oxide grains and a grain boundary layer between the zinc oxide grains. The grain boundary layer contains a positive temperature coefficient thermistor material in an amount of less than 10 mol % based on the grain boundary layer.

The present invention is directed to a varistor comprising a dielectric material comprising a sintered ceramic composed of zinc oxide grains and a grain boundary layer between the zinc oxide grains. The grain boundary layer contains a positive temperature coefficient thermistor material in an amount of less than 10 mol % based on the grain boundary layer.

In one embodiment a varistor may include a ceramic body. The varistor may further comprise a multilayer coating disposed around the ceramic body. The multilayer coating may include a first layer comprising a phenolic material or a silicone material; and a second layer adjacent the first layer, the second layer comprising a high dielectric strength coating.

In one embodiment a varistor may include a ceramic body. The varistor may further comprise a multilayer coating disposed around the ceramic body. The multilayer coating may include a first layer comprising a phenolic material or a silicone material; and a second layer adjacent the first layer, the second layer comprising a high dielectric strength coating.

A multilayer ceramic component according to the present disclosure includes a sintered body, a plurality of internal electrodes, and a side surface electrode. The side surface electrode includes: a primary electrode layer containing silver as a main component thereof; and a plating layer covering the primary electrode layer at least partially. The primary electrode layer includes a first terminal portion provided for the side surface of the sintered body and a second terminal portion. The second terminal portion extends, in a second direction, from at least one of a pair of end portions of the first terminal portion in a third direction and is provided for at least one of a pair of principal surfaces. An interposed portion is formed by allowing a part of the plating layer to enter a region where a tip of the second terminal portion and the sintered body are separate from each other.

A multilayer ceramic component according to the present disclosure includes a sintered body, a plurality of internal electrodes, and a side surface electrode. The side surface electrode includes: a primary electrode layer containing silver as a main component thereof; and a plating layer covering the primary electrode layer at least partially. The primary electrode layer includes a first terminal portion provided for the side surface of the sintered body and a second terminal portion. The second terminal portion extends, in a second direction, from at least one of a pair of end portions of the first terminal portion in a third direction and is provided for at least one of a pair of principal surfaces. An interposed portion is formed by allowing a part of the plating layer to enter a region where a tip of the second terminal portion and the sintered body are separate from each other.

A first internal electrode includes a pair of first connecting parts extending from a first end surface along a first direction to be connected to a first external electrode, and a first facing part provided between the pair of first connecting parts. A second internal electrode includes a pair of second connecting parts extending from a second end surface along the first direction to be connected to a second external electrode, and a second facing part provided between the pair of second connecting parts. A third internal electrode includes a third facing part disposed along the first direction. The third facing part overlaps the first facing part and the second facing part. A first end of the third facing part is disposed between the pair of first connecting parts, and a second end of the third facing part is disposed between the pair of second connecting parts.

A first internal electrode includes a pair of first connecting parts extending from a first end surface along a first direction to be connected to a first external electrode, and a first facing part provided between the pair of first connecting parts. A second internal electrode includes a pair of second connecting parts extending from a second end surface along the first direction to be connected to a second external electrode, and a second facing part provided between the pair of second connecting parts. A third internal electrode includes a third facing part disposed along the first direction. The third facing part overlaps the first facing part and the second facing part. A first end of the third facing part is disposed between the pair of first connecting parts, and a second end of the third facing part is disposed between the pair of second connecting parts.

A multilayer component and a mathod for producing a multilayer component are disclosed. In an embodiment a multilayer component includes a ceramic main element and at least one metal structure, wherein the metal structure is cosintered and wherein main element is a varistor ceramic having 90 mol % of ZnO, from 0.5 to 5 mol % of Sb.sub.2O.sub.3, from 0.05 to 2 mol % of Co.sub.3O.sub.4, Mn.sub.2O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2 and/or Cr.sub.2O.sub.3, and <0.1 mol % of B.sub.2O.sub.3, Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and/or NiO.