Arc Erosion Properties of the Ag-Cr2AlC Contact Material

This study investigates the arc performance of Ag-Cr2AlC composite materials. Spark plasma sintering method was employed to prepare the Ag-Cr2AlC composite material. A self-made arc erosion device was utilized to erode the material with different times of arc. The surface of the material was categorized into three distinct areas: the eroded center area, the eroded edge area, and the heat-affected area. After one time of arc erosion, the material exhibits a relatively flat surface with a small erosion area. However, after one hundred arc erosions, the eroded area has significantly increased, accompanied by numerous splashes, protrusions, and pores. The action of the arc leads to the decomposition and oxidation of the Ag-Cr2AlC composite material, resulting in the formation of Ag2O, Al2O3, and Cr2O3 on the surface. During the process of 100 arc erosions, the breakdown current value remains relatively stable, ranging from 20 to 35 A. From the first to the 70th arc erosion, the breakdown strength consistently varies between 3 × 106 V/m and 6 × 106 V/m. Subsequently, there is an observed enhancement in breakdown strength, leading to the appearance of ageing. These findings establish a theoretical foundation for the application of silver-based electrical contact materials.