Arc erosion behaviour of in-situ TiB2/Cu composites with a three-dimensional network structure

• Main Authors: Cai, L. (Author), Cao, F. (Author), Du, X. (Author), Han, F. (Author), Han, L. (Author), Jiang, Y. (Author), Xu, Y. (Author), Zhu, J. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing Ltd 2022
• Subjects: 3D network structure; 3D-network structures; arc erosion; Arc erosion; Contact tests; Copper; Copper compounds; Copper matrix composite; copper matrix composites; Electrical contact material; Erosion; Erosion behavior; Fabrication; Heterogeneous structures; Hot pressing; in-situ fabrication; In-situ fabrication; Mesoscopic scale; Metallic matrix composites; Particle reinforced composites; Particle size; Reinforcement; Three dimensional network structure; Titanium compounds
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher

 Copper matrix composites (CMCs) with tailored heterogeneous structures at the mesoscopic scale are promising candidates for electrical contact materials. In this work, CMCs reinforced by an in situ formed three-dimensional network of TiB2 particles were synthesized from Cu, Ti and B powder mixtures by reactive hot-pressing. The arc erosion behaviour of the fabricated CMCs was investigated by an electrical contact test. The distribution state of in situ TiB2 depends on the particle size of the Cu powder. The critical size for forming a continuous network in 3 wt%TiB2/Cu composites is estimated to be 24 μm. Once the continuous network is formed in CMCs, the arc energy and duration suddenly change to ultrasmall and stable values, and the erosion area and total mass loss after 5000 cycles of the contact test remarkably decrease. The results indicate that the CMCs reinforced by in situ networks of TiB2 particles exhibit excellent arc erosion resistance. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd.