Electrical Contact Behaviour of Silver Metal Oxides Composites Prepared by Pressurized Internal Oxidation

Silver metal oxides electrical contact composite of three different compositions Ag-SnO₂, Ag-CdO and Ag-CuO were fabricated by pressurized internal oxidation process under same processing conditions. The effect of metal oxides on the electrical contact behaviour and performance of the composites was investigated. The microstructure, electrical conductivity, microhardness, erosion loss, temperature raise and arc erosion surface were characterized. The results show that Ag-SnO₂ exhibits better anti-arc erosion performance and lower temperature raise under 220V/10A contact condition as compared to Ag-CdO and Ag-CuO. The metal oxides obviously influence the structural uniformity, electrical conductivity, temperature raise and erosion loss of above composite. The arc erosion surfaces of Ag-SnO₂ and Ag-CdO are relatively smooth and uniform, while that of Ag-CuO exhibits crater and roughness.