Microstructure and electrical contact behavior of the nano-yttria-modified Cu-Al2O3/30Mo/3SiC composite

Abstract With the rapid development of the copper-based composite in the field of electrical contact material industry, the problem of poor arc erosion resistance of the copper-based material becomes more and more prominent. Improving the arc erosion resistance of the copper-based composite is an urgent problem to be solved. Cu-Al2O3/30Mo/3SiC and 0.5Y2O3/Cu-Al2O3/30Mo/3SiC electrical contact composites were prepared in a fast-hot-pressing sintering furnace. The microstructure and phase structure of the composites were analyzed by using a scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and X-ray diffraction meter, respectively. The arc erosion properties of the composites at 25 V, DC and 10-30 A were investigated by using a JF04C electric contact tester. The mass loss of the composites was reduced by 77.8%, and the arc erosion rate was reduced by 79.6% after the addition of nano-yttrium oxide under the experimental conditions of 25 V, DC and 30 A. At the same time, the arc energy and welding force of the composite after switching operations decreased, indicating that the addition of nano-yttria improved the arc erosion resistance of the composite. This work provides a new method for improving the arc erosion resistance of the copper-based composite contact material.