Investigating arc erosion performance of Ag-Ta₂AlC, a new electrical contact material

Relays are extensively utilized in accelerators, satellites, rockets, and various advanced technology sectors. They play crucial roles in signal transmission, long-distance control implementation, and protection circuits, directly impacting the safety of aerospace and defense equipment systems. The selection of electrical contact material in a relay is crucial for its performance.

Arc discharge, characterized by high temperature, heat, and energy, is a common occurrence during operation. Consequently, the arc erodes the electric contact material, causing craters, spattered particles, compositional changes, and a decrease in performance. Traditionally used silver-based electrical contact material, such as AgCdO and AgSnO₂, suffer from chromium toxicity or poor wettability and severe temperature rise. Therefore, it is necessary to find a new reinforcement phase material to replace CdO and SnO₂ materials.

MAX phase materials are a type of ceramic material known for their good electrical conductivity, and the arc erosion performance of MAX phase enhanced silver based electrical contact materials has recently been investigated.

Recently, a team of material scientists led by Xiaochen Huang from Bengbu University, China first reported the synthesis, microstructure, physical properties (relative density, hardness, and electrical conductivity) and arc erosion performance of Ag-Ta₂AlC composite material. A comparative analysis of arc erosion properties was conducted of Ag-Ta₂AlC composites with varying compositions. Additionally, the microstructural and chemical changes in Ag-Ta₂AlC composites were observed and recorded experimentally. The mechanism of arc erosion and the formation of morphology was systematically explained.

The team published their work in Journal of Advanced Ceramics.

“In this report, Ag-Ta₂AlC composites with volume fractions of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% were fabricated by hot pressing sintering. The relative density of Ag- 10 vol.% Ta₂AlC composite material was 98.2%.

“As the Ta₂AlC content increased, the relative density of Ag-Ta₂AlC composite material gradually decreased. The hardness initially increased and then decreased. The Ag- 30 vol.% Ta₂AlC composite exhibited the highest hardness at 97.4 HV,” said Xiaochen Huang, Associate Professor at Bengbu University (China), a researcher whose research interests focus on the field of Ag-based electrical contact material.

“The Ag- 30 vol.% Ta₂AlC composite material exhibited the lowest arc energy (3.395 kJ) and shortest arcing time (33.26 ms). Additionally, the arc was dispersed on the surface of Ag- 30 vol.% Ta₂AlC composite material, preventing concentrated arc erosion and demonstrating higher arc erosion resistance among the four components,” said Huang.

“The surface atoms of the Ag-Ta₂AlC composite absorbed energy, which exceeded the work function of Ag and Ta₂AlC, resulting in their ionization. Ionized oxygen atoms combined with Ta and Al ions to form Ag₂O, AgO, Ta₂O₅, and Al₂O₃,” said Huang.

However, the transition boundary from the metallic to gaseous phase was found to be closely related to the arc voltage, air pressure, gas types, and materials. Considering the complexity of factors influencing the arc transition from the metallic to the gaseous phase, it was necessary to further explore the arc transition of Ag-Ta₂AlC under air conditions.

Other contributors include Xiaochen Huang, Liang Li, Jinlong Ge from the School of Material and Chemical Engineering at Bengbu University in Bengbu, China; Hao Zhao from the School of chemical and materials engineering, Anhui Science and Technology University in Bengbu, China; Zijue Zhou from School of Chemistry and Materials Engineering at Huainan Normal University in Huainan, China.