Method for manufacturing electrode material

A method for manufacturing an electrode material, comprising the steps of:

• (a) sintering a mixed powder containing a Cr powder and a powder of at least one heat-resistant element selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Ta, Nb, V, and Zr, the mixed powder containing the Cr and the heat-resistant element in a ratio such that the Cr is greater than the heat-resistant element by weight, thereby making a solid solution of the Cr and the heat-resistant element;
• (b) pulverizing the solid solution of the Cr and the heat-resistant element to obtain a solid solution powder of the Cr and the heat-resistant element, and then classifying the solid solution powder of the Cr and the heat-resistant element such that a volume-based relative particle amount of particles having a particle size of 90 μm or less becomes 90% or greater;
• (c) mixing the classified solid solution powder of the Cr and the heat-resistant element, a Cu powder having a median size of 100 μm or less, and a low melting metal powder having a median size of from 5 μm to 20 μm, the low melting metal powder being at least one selected from the group consisting of Bi, Sn, Se and Pb, such that the electrode material contains 39.80 to 89.73 weight % of the Cu, 7.96 to 47.86 weight % of the Cr, 1.99 to 11.96 weight % of the heat-resistant element, and 0.30 to 0.50 weight % of the low melting metal powder;
• and
• (d) sintering a compact prepared by pressing a mixed powder obtained by the mixing step, at a temperature of from 1010° C. to 1035° C., the sintering of step (d) being free from applying pressure to the compact,
• wherein the at least one heat-resistant element comprises Mo, and the low melting powder comprises Bi.