Production of B2O3 added contact materials and investigation of their properties

In this study, copper based electrical contact materials doped boron oxide was produced by means of powder metallurgy and hot pressing methods and their microstructure, mechanical properties and electrical performance and conductivity of the produced samples investigated. For the production of powder samples was attended B2O3 powders in the ratio wt. % 1, 3, 5 and 7 to the Cu powders and they have been mixed in the turbule ball-type mixer. Then the resulting mixture was filled to graphite mold and sintered under argon atmosphere at 850 °C and a pressure of 115 MPa and thus specimens obtained. It was performed density, hardness, three-point bending, conductivity, microstructure, contact performance (2000-4000-6000 and 8000 in the number of on / off cycles) and X-ray examinations of these samples.As a result, with increase of B2O3 rate, it was decreased the conductivity than pure Cu reference samples, but increased hardness, density and three-point bending strength and were found to be maximum of this properties at a 1% B2O3 addition samples. In contact performance experiments, was observed to the maximum weight loss in %7 B2O3-added sample and least weight loss in 1% B2O3-added samples. Contact surfaces were examined after contact performance test and observed at least damaged surface in samples %1 B2O3-added. Before and after contact performance test, X-ray examinations were performed and found that in all samples after ignition performance test occur the CuO peaks.