Author :
Morin, Laurent ; Jemaa, Nouredine Ben ; Jeannot, Didier ; Pinard, Jacques ; Nedelec, Luc
Abstract :
New materials for electrical contacts have been developed recently, based on AgFeOx, AgFeRe, AgZnO, and doped AgSnO2. The work described here aims at evaluating the material transfer characteristics, and the contact resistance behavior, of these materials under break arc in automotive applications (14 V DC, 30-40 A). A comparison is made between these new materials and four reference materials: Ag, AgCdO, AgSnO2, and AgNi. Four of the new materials appear very promising: AgZnO, AgFeOx, doped AgSnO2 io 6, and EMB8. These combine the good transfer performance of AgCdO in inductive load, i.e., in long cathodic arc, with that of AgSnO2 in resistive load, i.e., in short anodic arc. For all materials, contact resistance is much higher in inductive load (7 mΩ) than in resistive load (1 mΩ). An explanation of the different behaviors of these materials is attempted by means of metallographic analysis
Keywords :
automotive electronics; circuit-breaking arcs; contact resistance; electrical contacts; silver compounds; 14 V; 30 to 40 A; AgFeO; AgFeOx; AgFeRe; AgZnO; automotive applications; break arc; contact resistance behavior; contacts materials performances; doped AgSnO2 EMB8; doped AgSnO2 io 6; inductive load; long cathodic arc; material transfer characteristics; metallographic analysis; resistive load; short anodic arc; Automobiles; Automotive applications; Automotive materials; Circuit testing; Contact resistance; Contactors; Inorganic materials; Materials testing; Relays; Welding;
