Effect of Al2O3 particle size on vacuum breakdown behavior of Al2O3/Cu composite

In order to clarify the effect of Al2O3 particle size on the arc erosion behavior of the ceramic-reinforced Al2O3/Cu composite, Al2O3/Cu composites with different sizes of Al2O3 particles were prepared by powder metallurgy, the effect of Al2O3 particle size on the characteristics of arc motion was studied, and the mechanism of arc erosion of Al2O3/Cu composites was discussed as well. The results show that with decrease in the size of Al2O3 particles, the erosion area increases significantly and the erosion pits become shallower. The vacuum breakdown is preferred to appear in the area between Al2O3 particle and the copper matrix. Based on the experimental results and theoretical analysis, a particle partition arc model is proposed.