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<figtable id="tab:Mechanical Properties of Silver and Silver Alloys">
<caption>'''<!--Table 2.14:-->Mechanical Properties of Silver and Silver Alloys'''</caption>
<table class="twocolortable">
<tr><th><p class="s12">Material/</p><p class="s12">DODUCO-Designation</p></th><th><p class="s12">Hardness</p><p class="s12">Condition</p></th><th><p class="s12">Tensile Strength</p><p class="s12">R<span class="s31">m </span>[MPa]</p></th><th><p class="s12">Elongation A [%] min.</p></th><th><p class="s12">Vickers Hardness</p><p class="s12">HV 10</p></th></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">Ag</p></td><td><p class="s12">R 200</p><p class="s12">R 250</p><p class="s12">R 300</p><p class="s12">R 360</p></td><td><p class="s12">200 - 250</p><p class="s12">250 - 300</p><p class="s12">300 - 360</p><p class="s12">> 360</p></td><td><p class="s12">30</p><p class="s12">8</p><p class="s12">3</p><p class="s12">2</p></td><td><p class="s12">30</p><p class="s12">60</p><p class="s12">80</p><p class="s12">90</p></td></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">AgNi 0,15</p><p class="s12">ARGODUR Special</p></td><td><p class="s12">R 220</p><p class="s12">R 270</p><p class="s12">R 320</p><p class="s12">R 360</p></td><td><p class="s12">220 - 270</p><p class="s12">270 - 320</p><p class="s12">320 - 360</p><p class="s12">> 360</p></td><td><p class="s12">25</p><p class="s12">6</p><p class="s12">2</p><p class="s12">1</p></td><td><p class="s12">40</p><p class="s12">70</p><p class="s12">85</p><p class="s12">100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">AgCu3</p></td><td><p class="s12">R 250</p><p class="s12">R 330</p><p class="s12">R 400</p><p class="s12">R 470</p></td><td><p class="s12">250 - 330</p><p class="s12">330 - 400</p><p class="s12">400 - 470</p><p class="s12">> 470</p></td><td><p class="s12">25</p><p class="s12">4</p><p class="s12">2</p><p class="s12">1</p></td><td><p class="s12">45</p><p class="s12">90</p><p class="s12">115</p><p class="s12">120</p></td></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">AgCu5</p></td><td><p class="s12">R 270</p><p class="s12">R 350</p><p class="s12">R 460</p><p class="s12">R 550</p></td><td><p class="s12">270 - 350</p><p class="s12">350 - 460</p><p class="s12">460 - 550</p><p class="s12">> 550</p></td><td><p class="s12">20</p><p class="s12">4</p><p class="s12">2</p><p class="s12">1</p></td><td><p class="s12">55</p><p class="s12">90</p><p class="s12">115</p><p class="s12">135</p></td></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">AgCu10</p></td><td><p class="s12">R 280</p><p class="s12">R 370</p><p class="s12">R 470</p><p class="s12">R 570</p></td><td><p class="s12">280 - 370</p><p class="s12">370 - 470</p><p class="s12">470 - 570</p><p class="s12">> 570</p></td><td><p class="s12">15</p><p class="s12">3</p><p class="s12">2</p><p class="s12">1</p></td><td><p class="s12">60</p><p class="s12">95</p><p class="s12">130</p><p class="s12">150</p></td></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">AgCu28</p></td><td><p class="s12">R 300</p><p class="s12">R 380</p><p class="s12">R 500</p><p class="s12">R 650</p></td><td><p class="s12">300 - 380</p><p class="s12">380 - 500</p><p class="s12">500 - 650</p><p class="s12">> 650</p></td><td><p class="s12">10</p><p class="s12">3</p><p class="s12">2</p><p class="s12">1</p></td><td><p class="s12">90</p><p class="s12">120</p><p class="s12">140</p><p class="s12">160</p></td></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">Ag98CuNi</p><p class="s12">ARGODUR 27</p></td><td><p class="s12">R 250</p><p class="s12">R 310</p><p class="s12">R 400</p><p class="s12">R 450</p></td><td><p class="s12">250 - 310</p><p class="s12">310 - 400</p><p class="s12">400 - 450</p><p class="s12">> 450</p></td><td><p class="s12">20</p><p class="s12">5</p><p class="s12">2</p><p class="s12">1</p></td><td><p class="s12">50</p><p class="s12">85</p><p class="s12">110</p><p class="s12">120</p></td></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">AgCu24,5Ni0,5</p></td><td><p class="s12">R 300</p><p class="s12">R 600</p></td><td><p class="s12">300 - 380</p><p class="s12">> 600</p></td><td><p class="s12">10</p><p class="s12">1</p></td><td><p class="s12">105</p><p class="s12">180</p></td></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">AgCd10</p></td><td><p class="s12">R 200</p><p class="s12">R 280</p><p class="s12">R 400</p><p class="s12">R 450</p></td><td><p class="s12">200 - 280</p><p class="s12">280 - 400</p><p class="s12">400 - 450</p><p class="s12">> 450</p></td><td><p class="s12">15</p><p class="s12">3</p><p class="s12">2</p><p class="s12">1</p></td><td><p class="s12">36</p><p class="s12">75</p><p class="s12">100</p><p class="s12">115</p></td></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">Ag99,5NiMg</p><p class="s12">ARGODUR 32</p><p class="s12">Not heat treated</p></td><td><p class="s12">R 220</p><p class="s12">R 260</p><p class="s12">R 310</p><p class="s12">R 360</p></td><td><p class="s12">220</p><p class="s12">260</p><p class="s12">310</p><p class="s12">360</p></td><td><p class="s12">25</p><p class="s12">5</p><p class="s12">2</p><p class="s12">1</p></td><td><p class="s12">40</p><p class="s12">70</p><p class="s12">85</p><p class="s12">100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">ARGODUR 32 Heat treated</p></td><td><p class="s12">R 400</p></td><td><p class="s12">400</p></td><td><p class="s12">2</p></td><td><p class="s12">130-170</p></td></tr></table>
Increasing the Cu content further also increases the mechanical strength of AgCu alloys and improves arc erosion resistance and resistance against material transfer while at the same time however the tendency to oxide formation becomes detrimental. This causes during switching under arcing conditions an increase in contact resistance with rising numbers of operation. In special applications where highest mechanical strength is recommended and a reduced chemical resistance can be tolerated, the eutectic AgCu alloy with 28 wt% of copper <xr id="fig:Phase diagram of silver copper"/> <!--(Fig. 2.52) --> is used. AgCu10 also known as coin silver has been replaced in many applications by composite silver-based materials while sterling silver (AgCu7.5) has never extended its important usage from decorative table wear and jewelry to industrial applications in electrical contacts.
Besides these binary alloys, ternary AgCuNi alloys are used in electrical contact applications. From this group the material ARGODUR 27, an alloy of 98 wt% Ag with a 2 wt% Cu and nickel addition has found practical importance close to that of AgCu3. This material is characterized by high resistance to oxidation and low tendency to re-crystallization during exposure to high temperatures. Besides high mechanical stability this AgCuNi alloy also exhibits a strong resistance against arc erosion. Because of its high resistance against material transfer the alloy AgCu24.5Ni0.5 has been used in the automotive industry for an extended time in the North American market. Caused by miniaturization and the related reduction in available contact forces in relays and switches this material has been replaced widely because of its tendency to oxide formation.
The attachment methods used for the hard silver materials are mostly close to those applied for fine silver and fine grain silver.
Hard-silver alloys are widely used for switching applications in the information and energy technology for currents up to 10 A, in special cases also for higher current ranges <xr id="tab:Application Examples and Forms of Supply for Silver and Silver Alloys"/> <!--(Table 2.16)-->.
Dispersion hardened alloys of silver with 0.5 wt% MgO and NiO (ARGODUR 32) are produced by internal oxidation. While the melt-metallurgical alloy is easy to cold-work and form the material becomes very hard and brittle after dispersion hardening. Compared to fine silver and hard-silver this material has a greatly improved temperature stability and can be exposed to brazing temperatures up to 800°C without decreasing its hardness and tensile strength.
<figtable id="tab:Contact and Switching Properties of Silver and Silver Alloys">
<caption>'''<!--Table 2.15: -->Contact and Switching Properties of Silver and Silver Alloys'''</caption>
{| class="twocolortable" style="text-align: left; font-size: 12px"
<figtable id="tab:Application Examples and Forms of Supply for Silver and Silver Alloys">
<caption>'''<!--Table 2.16: -->Application Examples and Forms of Supply for Silver and Silver Alloys'''</caption>
{| class="twocolortable" style="text-align: left; font-size: 12px"
====Silver-Palladium Alloys====
The addition of 30 wt% Pd increases the mechanical properties as well as the resistance of silver against the influence of sulfur and sulfur containing compounds significantly <xr id="tab:Physical Properties of Silver-Palladium Alloys"/> <!--(Tab 2.17) --> and <xr id="tab:Mechanical Properties of Silver-Palladium Alloys"/> <!--(Tab.2.18)-->. Alloys with 40-60 wt% Pd have an even higher resistance against silver sulfide formation. At these percentage ranges however the catalytic properties of palladium can influence the contact resistance behavior negatively. The formability also decreases with increasing Pd contents.
AgPd alloys are hard, arc erosion resistant, and have a lower tendency towards material transfer under DC loads <xr id="tab:Contact and Switching Properties of Silver-Palladium Alloys"/> <!--(Table 2.19)-->. On the other hand the electrical conductivity is decreased at higher Pd contents. The ternary alloy AgPd30Cu5 has an even higher hardness which makes it suitable for use in sliding contact systems.
AgPd alloys are mostly used in relays for the switching of medium to higher loads (> 60V, > 2A) as shown in <xr id="tab:Application Examples and Forms of Suppl for Silver-Palladium Alloys"/> <!--(Table 2.20)-->. Because of the high palladium price these formerly solid contacts have been widely replaced by multi-layer designs such as AgNi0.15 or AgNi10 with a thin Au surface layer. A broader field of application for AgPd alloys remains in the wear resistant sliding contact systems.
<figtable id="tab:Physical Properties of Silver-Palladium Alloys">
<caption>'''<!--Table 2.17: -->Physical Properties of Silver-Palladium Alloys'''</caption>
{| class="twocolortable" style="text-align: left; font-size: 12px"
<figtable id="tab:Mechanical Properties of Silver-Palladium Alloys">
<caption>'''<!--Table 2.18: -->Mechanical Properties of Silver-Palladium Alloys'''</caption>
<table class="twocolortable">
<tr><th><p class="s12">Material</p></th><th><p class="s12">Hardness</p><p class="s12">Condition</p></th><th><p class="s12">Tensile Strength</p><p class="s12">R<span class="s31"><sub>m</sub></span>[MPa]</p></th><th><p class="s12">Elongation A</p><p class="s12">[%]min.</p></th><th><p class="s12">Vickers Hardness</p><p class="s12">HV</p></th></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">AgPd30</p></td><td><p class="s12">R 320</p><p class="s12">R 570</p></td><td><p class="s12">320</p><p class="s12">570</p></td><td><p class="s12">38</p><p class="s12">3</p></td><td><p class="s12">65</p><p class="s12">145</p></td></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">AgPd40</p></td><td><p class="s12">R 350</p><p class="s12">R 630</p></td><td><p class="s12">350</p><p class="s12">630</p></td><td><p class="s12">38</p><p class="s12">2</p></td><td><p class="s12">72</p><p class="s12">165</p></td></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">AgPd50</p></td><td><p class="s12">R 340</p><p class="s12">R 630</p></td><td><p class="s12">340</p><p class="s12">630</p></td><td><p class="s12">35</p><p class="s12">2</p></td><td><p class="s12">78</p><p class="s12">185</p></td></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">AgPd60</p></td><td><p class="s12">R 430</p><p class="s12">R 700</p></td><td><p class="s12">430</p><p class="s12">700</p></td><td><p class="s12">30</p><p class="s12">2</p></td><td><p class="s12">85</p><p class="s12">195</p></td></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">AgPd30Cu5</p></td><td><p class="s12">R 410</p><p class="s12">R 620</p></td><td><p class="s12">410</p><p class="s12">620</p></td><td><p class="s12">40</p><p class="s12">2</p></td><td><p class="s12">90</p><p class="s12">190</p></td></tr></table>
<figtable id="tab:Contact and Switching Properties of Silver-Palladium Alloys">
<caption>'''<!--Table 2.19: -->Contact and Switching Properties of Silver-Palladium Alloys''</caption>'
{| class="twocolortable" style="text-align: left; font-size: 12px"
<figtable id="tab:Application Examples and Forms of Suppl for Silver-Palladium Alloys">
<caption>'''<!--Table 2.20: -->Application Examples and Forms of Suppl for Silver-Palladium Alloys'''</caption>
<table class="twocolortable">
<tr><th><p class="s12">Material</p></th><th><p class="s12">Application Examples</p></th><th><p class="s12">Form of Supply</p></th></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">AgPd 30-60</p></td><td><p class="s12">Switches, relays, push-buttons,</p><p class="s12">connectors, sliding contacts</p></td><td><p class="s12">'''Semi-finished Materials:'''</p><p class="s12">Wires, micro profiles (weld tapes), clad</p><p class="s12">contact strips, seam-welded strips</p><p class="s12">'''Contact Parts:'''</p><p class="s12">Solid and composite rivets, weld buttons;</p><p class="s12">clad and welded contact parts, stamped parts</p></td></tr><tr><td><p class="s12">AgPd30Cu5</p></td><td><p class="s12">Sliding contacts, slider tracks</p></td><td><p class="s12">Wire-formed parts, contact springs, solid</p><p class="s12">and clad stamped parts</p></td></tr></table>
====Silver-Nickel (SINIDUR) Materials====
Since silver and nickel are not soluble in each other in solid form and in the liquid phase have only very limited solubility silver nickel composite materials with higher Ni contents can only be produced by powder metallurgy. During extrusion of sintered Ag/Ni billets into wires, strips and rods the Ni particles embedded in the Ag matrix are stretched and oriented in the microstructure into a pronounced fiber structure <xr id="fig:Micro structure of AgNi9010"/> <!--(Fig. 2.75) --> and <xr id="fig:Micro structure of AgNi 8020"/> <!--(Fig. 2.76)-->
The high density produced during hot extrusion aids the arc erosion resistance of these materials <xr id="tab:Physical Properties of Silver-Nickel (SINIDUR) Materials"/> <!--(Tab 2.21)-->. The typical application of Ag/Ni contact materials is in devices for switching currents of up to 100A <xr id="tab:Application Examples and Forms of Supply for Silver-Nickel (SINIDUR) Materials"/> <!--(Table 2.24)-->. In this range they are significantly more erosion resistant than silver or silver alloys. In addition they exhibit with nickel contents < 20 wt% a low and over their operational lifetime consistent contact resistance and good arc moving properties. In DC applications Ag/Ni materials exhibit a relatively low tendency of material transfer distributed evenly over the contact surfaces <xr id="tab:Contact and Switching Properties of Silver-Nickel (SINIDUR) Materials"/> <!--(Table 2.23)-->.
Typically Ag/Ni (SINIDUR) materials are usually produced with contents of 10-40 wt% Ni. The most widely used materials SINIDUR 10 and SINIDUR 20- and also SINIDUR 15, mostly used in north america-, are easily formable and applied by cladding <xr id="fig:Strain hardening of AgNi9010 by cold working"/> <!--(Fig. 2.71) --> <xr id="fig:Softening of AgNi9010 after annealing"/> <!--(Fig. 2.72) --> <xr id="fig:Strain hardening of AgNi8020"/> <!--(Fig. 2.73) --> <xr id="fig:Softening of AgNi8020 after annealing"/> <!--(Fig. 2.74)-->. They can be, without any additional welding aids, economically welded and brazed to the commonly used contact carrier materials.
The (SINIDUR) materials with nickel contents of 30 and 40 wt% are used in switching devices requiring a higher arc erosion resistance and where increases in contact resistance can be compensated through higher contact forces.
The most important applications for Ag/Ni contact materials are typically in relays, wiring devices, appliance switches, thermostatic controls, auxiliary switches, and small contactors with nominal currents > 20A <xr id="tab:Application Examples and Forms of Supply for Silver-Nickel (SINIDUR) Materials"/> <!--(Table 2.24)-->.
<figtable id="tab:Physical Properties of Silver-Nickel (SINIDUR) Materials">
<caption>'''<!--Table 2.21: -->Physical Properties of Silver-Nickel (SINIDUR) Materials'''</caption>
<table class="twocolortable">
<tr><th>Material/DODUCO</th><th>Silver Content</th><th>Density</th><th>Melting Point</th><th>ElectricalResistivity<i>p</i></th><th colspan="2">Electrical Resistivity (soft)</th></tr>
<figtable id="tab:tab2.22">
<caption>'''<!-- Table 2.22: -->Mechanical Properties of Silver-Nickel (SINIDUR) Materials'''</caption>
{| class="twocolortable" style="text-align: left; font-size: 12px"
<figtable id="tab:Contact and Switching Properties of Silver-Nickel (SINIDUR) Materials">
<caption>'''<!-- Table 2.23: -->Contact and Switching Properties of Silver-Nickel (SINIDUR) Materials'''</caption>
{| class="twocolortable" style="text-align: left; font-size: 12px"
<figtable id="tab:Application Examples and Forms of Supply for Silver-Nickel (SINIDUR) Materials">
<caption>'''<!--Table 2.24: -->Application Examples and Forms of Supply for Silver-Nickel (SINIDUR) Materials'''</caption>
{| class="twocolortable" style="text-align: left; font-size: 12px"
==== Silver-Metal Oxide Materials Ag/CdO, Ag/SnO<sub>2</sub>, Ag/ZnO====
The family of silver-metal oxide contact materials includes the material groups: silver-cadmium oxide (DODURIT CdO), silver-tin oxide (SISTADOX), and silverzinc oxide (DODURIT ZnO). Because of their very good contact and switching properties like high resistance against welding, low contact resistance, and high arc erosion resistance, silver-metal oxides have gained an outstanding position in a broad field of applications. They mainly are used in low voltage electrical switching devices like relays, installation and distribution switches, appliances, industrial controls, motor controls, and protective devices <xr id="tab:tab2.31"/> <!--(Table 2.31)-->.
*'''Silver-cadmium oxide (DODURIT CdO) materials'''
Silver-cadmium oxide (DODURIT CdO) materials with 10-15 wt% are produced by both, internal oxidation and powder metallurgical methods <xr id="tab:Physical and Mechanical Properties"/> <!--(Table 2.25)-->.
<figtable id="tab:Physical and Mechanical Properties">
</figtable>
The manufacturing of strips and wires by internal oxidation starts with a molten alloy of silver and cadmium. During a heat treatment below it's melting point in a oxygen rich atmosphere in such a homogeneous alloy the oxygen diffuses from the surface into the bulk of the material and oxidizes the Cd to CdO in a more or less fine particle precipitation inside the Ag matrix. The CdO particles are rather fine in the surface area and are becoming larger further away towards the center of the material <xr id="fig:Micro structure of AgCdO9010"/> <!--(Fig. 2.83)-->.
During the manufacturing of Ag/CdO contact material by internal oxidation the processes vary depending on the type of semi-finished material. For Ag/CdO wires a complete oxidation of the AgCd wire is performed, followed by wire-drawing to the required diameter <xr id="fig:Strain hardening of internally oxidized AgCdO9010"/> <!--(Figs. 2.77) --> and <xr id="fig:Softening of internally oxidized AgCdO9010"/> <!--(Fig. 2.78)-->. The resulting material is used for example in the production of contact rivets. For Ag/CdO strip materials two processes are commonly used: Cladding of an AgCd alloy strip with fine silver followed by complete oxidation results in a strip material with a small depletion area in the center of it's thickness and a Ag backing suitable for easy attachment by brazing (sometimes called "Conventional Ag/CdO"). Using a technology that allows the partial oxidation of a dual-strip AgCd alloy material in a higher pressure pure oxygen atmosphere yields a composite Ag/CdO strip material that has besides a relatively fine CdO precipitation also a easily brazable AgCd alloy backing <xr id="fig:Micro structure of AgCdO9010ZH"/> <!--(Fig. 2.85)-->. These materials (DODURIT CdO ZH) are mainly used as the basis for contact profiles and contact tips.
During powder metallurgical production the powder mixed made by different processes are typically converted by pressing, sintering and extrusion to wires and strips. The high degree of deformation during hot extrusion produces a uniform and fine dispersion of CdO particles in the Ag matrix while at the same time achieving a high density which is advantageous for good contact properties <xr id="fig:Micro structure of AgCdO9010P"/> <!--(Fig. 2.84)-->. To obtain a backing suitable for brazing, a fine silver layer is applied by either com-pound extrusion or hot cladding prior to or right after the extrusion <xr id="fig:Micro structure of AgCdO8812WP"/> <!--(Fig. 2.86)-->.
For larger contact tips, and especially those with a rounded shape, the single tip Press-Sinter-Repress process (PSR) offers economical advantages. The powder mix is pressed in a die close to the final desired shape, the "green" tips are sintered, and in most cases the repress process forms the final exact shape while at the same time increasing the contact density and hardness.
