Electrical contact compositions and novel manufacturing method
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsGraham A. Whitlow, William R. Lovic, Paul G. Slade
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Abstract
A new class of low chop contact materials based on Ag-chromium carbide and Ag-Cr compositions have an essentially 100% dense, porosity free microstructure. These materials combine the advantageous properties of Ag-WC and Cu-Cr contacts without their disadvantages. A method of making this new class of low chop contact materials includes the steps of cold pressing a mixture of Ag and chromium or chromium carbide to form an unsintered blank and the elevated temperature infiltration of silver into the unsintered blank to obtain an essentially 100% dense, porosity free microstructure.
Claims5
An improved electrical contact comprising an alloy of Ag and a material selected from the group consisting of Cr.sub.3 C.sub.2, Cr.sub.7 C.sub.3, Cr.sub.23 C.sub.6, mixtures thereof and Cr wherein about 0.10 to 0.99% by weight of a ternary element is selected from the group consisting of bismuth, tellurium, thallium and said ternary element is added to said alloy to enhance an arc sustaining vapor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.