Microstructure and vacuum arc characteristics of CuO skeletal structure Ag-CuO contact materials

In this paper, the novel Ag-45CuO contact materials with CuO skeletal structure were successfully prepared by high energy ball milling and hot pressing technology. The microstructure and vacuum arc characteristics of CuO skeletal structure Ag-45CuO materials were investigated. The as milled Ag-CuO powders were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The microstructure and arc eroded surface morphologies of CuO skeletal structure Ag-45CuO materials were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Vickers microhardness and conductivity tests were conducted to determine the mechanical properties of the Ag-CuO samples. The results show that CuO skeletal structure in Ag-45CuO materials has formed and exhibit homogeneous CuO skeletal microstructure. With the CuO content increase from 20 wt.% to 45 wt.%, it was found that the microhardness increased over 2 times and the arc erosion areas decreased obviously, which indicates that the anti-arc erosion characteristic of CuO skeletal structure Ag-45CuO materials can be improved significantly.