Microstructure and properties of Ag–SnO2 materials with high SnO2 content

• The Ag–SnO2 materials with high SnO2 content show homogeneous microstructure.
• The Ag–SnO2 materials with high SnO2 content have high hardness and conductivity.
• The arc erosion rate decreased 2 times when SnO2 content increased by 15 wt.%.
• The arc erosion resistance of Ag–SnO2 materials can be improved significantly.

The microstructure and properties of Ag–SnO2 materials with high SnO2 content were investigated. The microstructure, physical properties and arc erosion behavior of Ag–SnO2 materials with high SnO2 content were studied. The results showed that the Ag–SnO2 materials with high SnO2 content show homogeneous microstructure with high hardness and good conductivity. With the SnO2 content increase from 15 wt.% to 30 wt.%, it was found that the arc erosion rate decreased 2 times and microhardness increased 51%, which indicates that the arc erosion resistance of Ag–SnO2 materials can be improved significantly.