Effect of SnO₂ Particle Size on Properties of Ag-SnO₂ Electrical Contact Materials Prepared by the Reductive Precipitation Method

Abstract:

Performances of Ag-SnO₂ electrical contact materials can be strongly affected by the microstructure. In this work, Ag-SnO₂ composite powders were synthesized by chemical reductive precipitation method. During the precipitation process, Ag particle was deposited onto the surface of SnO₂ particle with the assistance of citric acid. The microstructure and properties were analyzed for the prepared Ag-SnO₂ electrical contact materials. Our research reveals that the particle size of SnO₂ has significant influence on the morphology of the Ag-SnO₂ composite powders, and therefore on the microstructure and physical properties of the electrical contact materials. With the decrease of particle size of SnO₂, hardness of the Ag-SnO₂ electrical contact materials increases, while electrical conductivity decreases.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 936)
• Pages: 459-463
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.936.459
• Online since: June 2014
• Authors: Zhi Jie Lin*, Xu Dong Sun, Shao Hong Liu, Jia Lin Chen, Ming Xie, Ji Guang Li, Xiao Dong Li, Di Huo, Mu Zhang, Qi Zhu
• Keywords: Chemical Reductive Precipitation, Electrical Conductivity, Electrical Contact Materials, Hardness, Particle Size

References

[1] A. Kratzschmar, R. Herbst, T. Mulzel, R. Niederreuther, P. Braumann, Basic Investigations on the Behavior of Advanced Ag/SnO2 Materials for Contactor Applications, Electrical Contacts (2010) 127-133.

DOI: 10.1109/holm.2010.5619553

[2] E. Hetzmannseder, W.F. Rieder, Make-and-Break Erosion of Ag/MeO Contact Materials. Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology, Part A 19 (1996) 397-403.

DOI: 10.1109/95.536841

[3] Ć. Vladan, Ć. Aleksandar, T. Nadežda, Ž. Dragana, M. Dragan, M. Duško, Improving dispersion of SnO2 nanoparticles in Ag-SnO2 electrical contact materials using template method, J. Alloy. Compd. 567 (2013) 33-39.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.03.094

[4] T. Z. Yang, Z. J. Du, Y. Y. Gu, X. Y. Qiu, M. X. Jiang, G. Chu, Preparation of AgSnO2 composite powders by hydrothermal process, T. Nonferr. Metal. Soc. 17 (2007) 434-438.

DOI: 10.1016/s1003-6326(07)60111-3

[5] R. Wolmer, M. Mueller, F. Heringhaus, D. Ruehlicke and D. Goia, U.S. Patent 6, 409, 794. (2002).

[6] X. M. Liu, S. L. Wu, P. K. Chu, C. Y. Chung, J. Zheng, S. L. Li, Effects of coating process on the characteristics of Ag-SnO2 contact materials. Mater. Chem. Phys. 98 (2006) 477-480.

DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2005.09.067

[7] Z.J. Lin, S.H. Liu, X.D. Sun, M. Xie, J.G. Li, X.D. Li, Y.T. Chen, J.L. Chen, D. Huo, M. Zhang, Q. Zhu and M.M. Liu, The effects of citric acid on the synthesis and performance of silver-tin oxide electrical contact materials, J. Alloy. Compd. 588 (2014).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.10.222

[8] Y. L. Chen, C. F. Yang, J. W. Yeh, S. S. Hung, S. W. Lee, A novel process for fabricating electrical contact SnO2/Ag composites by reciprocating extrusion, Metall. Mat. Trans. A. 36 (2005) 2441-2447.

DOI: 10.1007/s11661-005-0117-0

[9] C.H. Xu, D.Q. Yi, C.P. Wu, H.Q. Liu, W.Z. Li, Microstructures and properties of silver-based contact material fabricated by hot extrusion of internal oxidized Ag-Sn-Sb alloy powders, Mat. Sci. Eng. A 538 (2012) 202-209.

DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2012.01.031

[10] F. Heringhaus, P. Braumann, D. Rühlicke, E. Susnik, R. Wolmer, On the improvement of dispersion in Ag-SnO2-based contact materials, proceedings of 20th International conference on Electrical contacts, (2000).

[11] Y.G. Du, S.X. Bai, Y. Yi, J.C. Zhang, The resistance of tin-oxide particulate-reinforced silver composite materials, J. Funct. Mater. 25 (1994) 150-153.