Influence of Operation Numbers on Arc Erosion of Ag/CdO Electrical Contact Materials

Ag/CdO is still widely used in the aerospace industry due to new alternative materials not meeting industrial expectations. Here, we have presented a study of the influence of operation numbers on arc erosion behavior of Ag/10CdO electrical contact. The surface morphology was characterized by a 3-D profilometer and SEM, and the element distribution was analyzed by an electron probe microanalyzer. The result showed the electrical contact physical phenomena, surface macro-morphology and micromorphology, microstructure, and the element distribution of Ag/10CdO electrical contact materials were changed under the action of arc erosion. Some new and different arc erosion morphology characteristics were observed on the contact surface. The poor cadmium layer, rich cadmium layer, and pure silver layer appear inside of the arc erosion zone. In addition, the formation process and mechanism on arc erosion of Ag/10CdO electrical contact materials were discussed.