The types and the formation mechanisms of AgNi contact morphology due to breaking arc erosion

Abstract

By means of breaking tests on different Ni content for AgNi contact materials in a CKS contact material machine, an attempt was made to elucidate the formation mechanisms of the various surface morphologies after the arc erosion process as caused by the break arc. We first investigated the morphology of the anode and cathode surface that was eroded by a single break arc. It is found that eight quite distinct types of the surface morphology are formed by repeated arcing. The formation mechanisms of the morphology types and the actions in arc erosion process can be explained.