Studies on electrical properties of polymer thick film resistors

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to study the variation of electrical properties like electrical resistivity and current noise of a polymer thick film resistor, namely, PVC‐graphite thick film resistor, with parameters such as volume fraction, grain size, temperature and high voltage.

Design/methodology/approach

A model is proposed to explain the observed variations, which assumes that the texture of the polymer thick film resistor consists of insulator granules coated with conducting particles and also having cavities. The resistivity of these resistors is controlled mainly by the contact resistance between the conducting particles and the number of contacts each particle with its neighbors.

Findings

The variation of resistivity with temperature and high voltage is explained with the help of the model and it is attributed to the change in contact area and number of contacts. The current noise of these resistors is controlled mainly by the average relative resistance fluctuations between the conducting particles and the number of contacts each particle with its neighbors.

Originality/value

The variation of current noise with high voltage has also been explained with the help of this model and it is attributed to the change in number of conducting particles and conducting layers.

Citation

Srinivasa Rao, Y. (2007), "Studies on electrical properties of polymer thick film resistors", Microelectronics International, Vol. 24 No. 1, pp. 8-14. https://doi.org/10.1108/13565360710725883