ACTA

Development of W-Cu-Ni Electrical Contact Materials with Enhanced Mechanical Properties by Spark Plasma Sintering Process

M. Lungu^a, V. Tsakiris^a, E. Enescu^a, D. Pătroi^a, V. Marinescu^a, D. Tălpeanu^a, D. Pavelescu^b, Gh. Dumitrescu^c and A. Radulian^c
^aNational Institute for Research and Development in Electrical Engineering, ICPE-CA, Splaiul Unirii no. 313, 030138 Bucharest - 3, Romania
^bPOLITEHNICA University of Bucharest (UPB), Splaiul Independenţei no. 313, 060042, Bucharest - 6, Romania
^cIcpe SA, Splaiul Unirii no. 313, 030138 Bucharest - 3, Romania

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This study reports on the development of some W-Cu-Ni materials for use as electrical contacts for low voltage vacuum switching contactors for nominal currents up to 630 A. The contact materials with 85 wt% W, 12-14 wt% Cu and 1-3 wt% Ni were obtained by spark plasma sintering process in vacuum. From very finely dispersed W-Cu-Ni powder mixtures there were produced sintered electrical contact pieces that were investigated in terms of physical, microstructural, mechanical, and functional properties. The material sintered at 1200°C exhibited a near fully dense structure with very low porosity and enhanced mechanical properties: hardness of maximum 480 HV1 and elastic modulus of maximum 220 GPa and low chopping current of maximum 1.77 A.

DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.125.327
PACS numbers: 81.16.-c, 81.05.Ni, 81.07.Wx, 81.20.Ev