Fig. 5.16: Softening of CuNi12Zn24 after 3 hrs annealing after 50% cold working

Besides the low-allowed CuAg0.1 other copper materials with higher silver contents (2-6 wt%) are also used as contacts carrier materials. Some of them contain additionally 1.5 wt% Cd. The phase diagram ''(Fig. 5.17)'' shows that in principle the CuAg alloys can be precipitation hardened, but the possible increase in mechanical strength is rather small.