Effect of TiB2 on properties and microstructures of Cu W electrical contact materials

The W skeletons were pressed by the cold isostatic pressing process, and CuW alloys with different TiB2 contents were prepared by the sintering and infiltration method. The effects of TiB2 addition on the microstructures, properties, vacuum breakdown performance, and arc motion characteristics of CuW alloys were investigated. The results show that the conductivity of CuW alloy decreases with the addition of TiB2, while the hardness increases. Compared with CuW alloy, this method improves the breakdown strength, reduces the chopping current and extends the arc life of CuW alloy. The anti-arc erosion performance of CuW alloy with the addition of TiB2 was enhanced. For CuW alloy containing TiB2, the electric breakdown occurs on the TiB2 phase at the edge of the W phase, the cathode spots are split, the arc is effectively scattered, and the ablation area after multiple breakdowns is larger, but the erosion pits are shallow and dispersed.