The New Agreni (12, 15) The Development Of Electrical Contact Materials

AgNi, as electrical material,is widely used in low/middle - load field because of its unique merit. But the anti-welding ability of AgNi contact material used in automotive relays is lower.so its application is limited. In this paper, the combinative method of RS(rapid solidifying) and MA(Mechanical alloying) technique was adopted to prepare AgRENi electrical alloys. To improve the anti-welding ability and the contact electrical durability of AgNi , RE was added in.The size distribution and microstructure of AgRE alloys powder produced by Supersonic Gas-centrifugal Atomization techniques was studied By means of LS800, OM, XRD, SEM . The press forming, sinter and extrusion parameter were optimized . The microstructure , physical property, mechanical property and electrical property of AgRENi was tested.At the meantime, the contact electrical durability of AgRENi 12 and AgRENi 15 was simulated by ASTM under practical application condition. These properties of AgRENi was compared with AgNi.The results show that the shape of AgRE alloys powder is spherulitic. The size of AgRE alloys powder approximately conforms to Guassian distribution. The microstructure of powder consists of non-segregated equiaxed grains. There is dispersed Ag2RE compound in AgRENi. RE can effectively refine the microstructure and raise the recrystal temperature. The mechanical property of AgRENi is better than that of AgNi. The AgRENi have excellent processability.Resistivity of AgRENi is lower than that of AgNi. Welding resistance and arcing ablation of AgRENi is better also. Ten thousands tests indicated that the arcing energe of AgRENi 12 and AgRENi 15 was lower than AgNi15,and the variation trend of the former was more stable.Under the identical condition ,the propertity ofAgRENi was better than AgNi,especially,the contact electrical durability of the former was longer. Analysis of arcing ablation of AgRENi 12 contact showed that Ag was transferred from anode to cathode,and liquid metal sputter simultaneosly. under the resistance load condition DC25 VI5 A,arcing ablation of AgRENi 12 occurrs at the brim of contact.