Microstructure and properties of an electrocontact Cu–(ZnO/TiO2) material

A copper-based electrical-contact composite material hardened by disperse zinc oxide and zinc titanate is studied by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The distribution of oxide phases in the samples containing 2.5 wt % oxide nanopowder mixture in an initial charge is found to be uniform. An increase in the amount of oxides leads to an increase in their sized in sintering. A relation between the sample wear and the sample composition is obtained during laboratory tests. It is shown that the introduction of more than 2.5 wt % oxide mixture results in intense wear of the working surface of the sample and an increase in the running-in period of contacts.