The Performance Degradation Comparison Test and Failure Mechanism of Silver Metal Oxide Contact Materials

In order to evaluate the electrical contact behaviors of silver metal oxide contact materials in relays application more accurately, and guide the selection of contact materials, the test device and testing method for simulating electrical contact behavior in relays application was analyzed in this paper. The electrical contact simulation test system was designed and developed, which can easily test contact materials. The contact resistance, static force and rebound energy degradation parameters of AgSnO₂, AgCdO and AgNi contact materials under the same load conditions were obtained through experimental research, the contact resistance and arcing energy degradation parameters of AgSnO₂ under different opening travels were acquired at the same time. The result indicated that accurate data are received by the electrical contact simulation testing method. Finally, based on the test data, the degradation performance of three selected test materials were tested, and the failure mechanism of AgSnO₂ materials was analyzed.