Switching Properties of Contacts Made of Silver-Tungsten and Silver-Tungsten-Rhenium Composite Materials

There were carried out a research and results´ analysis of switching properties of contacts made of Ag-W and Ag-W-Re consisting of 50% of Ag and 1-4% of Re. Contacts were made using powder metallurgy methods: Press-Sinter-Repress and Press-Sinter-Infiltrate method. Arc erosion tests, measurements of contact resistance change and contacts´ tack welding tests were carried out in model testing conditions. Arc erosion was tested for currents 4 and 6 kA. In all of the cases there was a positive effect on switching properties of the addition of rhenium to the Ag-W composite. Then the final results´ analysis was carried out and, consequently, conclusions were drawn.