VARISTOR ELEMENT AND VARISTOR

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a varistor element capable of obtaining a varistor having a small amount of expansion and adhesion of plating reliably. SOLUTION: An ideal varistor element 2 has a configuration where an internal electrode layer 12, and a varistor layer 14 made of a varistor material are laminated alternately. The varistor layer 14 has a composition containing Zn, Co, Pr, Li, and Zr. When the varistor element 2 is analyzed in the depth direction from the surface, the content of Li is not more than 0.08 pts.mass to 100 pts.mass of the total of Zn, Co, Pr at a depth position to the surface side by 2 μm as compared with a reference depth position where the content of Zr becomes nearly constant. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT