High-purity Ti2AlC Powder: Preparation and Application in Ag-based Electrical Contact Materials

doi:10.15541/jim20190243

Abstract

Abstract:

Ag-based electrical contact is the "heart" of low-voltage switch, and the Cd toxicity has long been a haunting problem. It is the research focus of the low-voltage switch to find new environment-friendly electrical contact materials. Starting from the design of reinforcement for Ag-based electrical contact in this work, the high-purity Ti₂AlC powder (99.2%) was synthesized by a simple and fast pressureless technique. Ag/Ti₂AlC composite electrical contact material was also prepared with homogeneous structure, good bonding between Ag and Ti₂AlC particles, high relative density (95.7%), moderate hardness (96HV), satisfactory electrical conductivity (low resistivity of 79.5 nΩ·m), and favorable arc erosion resistance (mass loss of 4.4% after 5610 arc discharging cycles). These excellent structure and properties of Ag/Ti₂AlC composite are mainly attributed to the good thermal and electrical conductivity of Ti₂AlC and the good wettability between Ag and Ti₂AlC. This composite is expected to replace the conventional electrical contact materials in the future.

Key words: Ti₂AlC, electrical contact, metal-ceramic composite, conductivity, wettability, arc erosion resistance

CLC Number:

TG148

DING Jianxiang,HUANG Peiyan,ZHA Yuhui,WANG Dandan,ZHANG Peigen,TIAN Wubian,SUN Zhengming. High-purity Ti₂AlC Powder: Preparation and Application in Ag-based Electrical Contact Materials[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2020, 35(6): 729-734.

Figures/Tables 11

Sample	Composition, x	Purity/%
S1	1.05	77.5
S2	1.10	57.9
S3	1.15	41.4
S4	1.20	31.5

Fig. 1 XRD patterns of samples with different Al contents

Sample	Composition, x	Purity/%
S1	1.00	77.5
S5	1.05	99.2
S6	1.10	92.3
S7	1.15	91.7

Fig. 2 XRD patterns of samples with different C contents

Fig. 3 SEM images of samples with different C contents (a, b) S1; (c, d) S5; (e, f) S6; (g, h) S7

Sample	Temperature/℃	Purity/%
S8	1200	16.3
S9	1300	35.7
S10	1400	99.2
S11	1500	81.8

Fig. 4 XRD patterns of 0.95TiC/1.05Ti/1.05Al sintered at different temperatures

Fig. 5 Contact angles and optical images of Ag/Ti2AlC in the process of heating

Fig. 6 XRD pattern of Ag/10TAC composite with insets showing (a) picture of the bulk, (b) microstructure of composite, and (c) the magnified SEM image

Density/ (g?cm^-3)	Relative density/%	Hardness, HV	Resistivity/ (nΩ·m)
8.692	95.7%	96	79.5

Fig. 7 (a) Optical image of the Ag/10TAC contact after 5610 arc discharging cycles, with magnified SEM image in the inset; (b) SEM image of the contact surface morphology; (c) Morphology of the Ag molten pool, with magnified SEM image of cauliflower-shaped Ag particles in the inset; (d) Magnified SEM image of the aggregated eroded Ti2AlC (dark area in (b))

References 24

[1]	WINDRED G . Electrical contact resistance. Journal of the Franklin Institute, 1941,231(6):547-585.
[2]	HOLM R, HOLM E. Electric Contacts Handbook . Berlin: Springer, 1958.
[3]	COSOVIC V, COSOVIC A, TALIJAN N , et al. State of the art and challenges in development of electrical contact materials in the light of the RoHS directive. Science of Sintering, 2012,44(2):245-253.
[4]	SLADE P G . Effect of high temperature on the release of heavy metals from AgCdO and AgSnO₂ contacts. IEEE Transactions on Components, Hybrids, and Manufacturing Technology, 1989,12(1):5-15.
[5]	SCHRODER K H . Silver-metal oxides as contact materials. IEEE Transactions on Components, Hybrids, and Manufacturing Technology, 1987,10(1):127-134.
[6]	WU C P, YI D Q, LI J , et al. Investigation on microstructure and performance of Ag/ZnO contact material. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2008,457(1/2):565-570.
[7]	ZHOU X L, CAO J C, CHEN J C , et al. Micro-superplastic behavior of copper oxide in AgCuO composites. Rare Metal Materials and Engineering, 2013,42(11):2242-2244.
[8]	WOJCIK-GRZYBEK D, FRYDMAN K, BORKOWSKI P . The influence of the microstructure on the switching properties of Ag C, Ag-WC-C and Ag-WC contact materials. Archives of Metallurgy and Materials, 2013,58(4):1059-1065.
[9]	WU C P, YI D Q, WENG W , et al. Arc erosion behavior of Ag/Ni electrical contact materials. Materials & Design, 2015,85:511-519.
[10]	BARSOUM M W . The M _N₊₁AX_N phases: a new class of solids; thermodynamically stable nanolaminates. Progress in Solid State Chemistry, 2000,28(1-4):201-281.
[11]	SUN Z M . Progress in research and development on MAX phases: a family of layered ternary compounds. International Materials Reviews, 2011,56(3):143-166.
[12]	ZHANG M, TIAN W B, ZHANG P G , et al. Microstructure and properties of Ag-Ti₃SiC₂ contact materials prepared by pressureless sintering. International Journal of Minerals, Metallurgy, and Materials, 2018,25(7):810-816.
[13]	DING J X, TIAN W B, ZHANG P G , et al. Arc erosion behavior of Ag/Ti₃AlC₂ electrical contact materials. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2018,740:669-676.
[14]	DING J X, TIAN W B, WANG D D , et al. Corrosion and degradation mechanism of Ag/Ti₃AlC₂ composites under dynamic electric arc discharging. Corrosion Science, 2019,156:147-160.
[15]	WANG D D, TIAN W B, MA A B , et al. Anisotropic properties of Ag/Ti₃AlC₂ electrical contact materials prepared by equal channel angular pressing. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2019,784:431-438.
[16]	LIU M M, CHEN J L, CUI H , et al. Ag/Ti₃AlC₂ composites with high hardness, high strength and high conductivity. Materials Letters, 2018,213:269-273.
[17]	DING J X, TIAN W B, ZHANG P G , et al. Preparation and arc erosion properties of Ag/Ti₂SnC composites under electric arc discharging. Journal of Advanced Ceramics, 2019,8(1):90-101.
[18]	DING J X, TIAN W B, WANG D D , et al. Microstructure evolution, oxidation behavior and corrosion mechanism of Ag/Ti₂SnC composite during dynamic electric arc discharging. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2019,785:1086-1096.
[19]	ZHU J F, GAO J Q, YANG J F , et al. Synthesis and microstructure of layered-ternary Ti₂AlC ceramic by high energy milling and hot pressing. Materials Science and Engineering A, 2008,490(1/2):62-65.
[20]	BAI Y L, ZHANG H X, HE X D , et al. Growth morphology and microstructural characterization of nonstoichiometric Ti₂AlC bulk synthesized by self-propagating high temperature combustion synthesis with pseudo hot isostatic pressing. International Journal of Refractory Metals and Hard Materials, 2014,45:58-63.
[21]	ZHOU W B, MEI B C, ZHU J Q , et al. Rapid synthesis of Ti₂AlC by spark plasma sintering technique. Materials Letters, 2005,59(1):131-134.
[22]	LIANG B Y, WANG M Z, LI X P , et al. Synthesis of Ti₂AlC by laser- induced self-propagating high-temperature sintering. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2010,501(1):L1-L3.
[23]	LIU W, BO T Z, XIE Z P , et al. Fabrication of injection moulded translucent alumina ceramics via pressureless sintering. Advances in Applied Ceramics, 2011,110(4):251-254.
[24]	YEH C L, SHEN Y G . Combustion synthesis of Ti₃AlC₂ from Ti/Al/C/TiC powder compacts. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2008,466:308-313.

High-purity Ti₂AlC Powder: Preparation and Application in Ag-based Electrical Contact Materials

RichHTML

PDF (PC)

Knowledge

Cited

Abstract

Cite this article

share this article

Figures/Tables 11

References 24

Related Articles 15

Recommended Articles

Metrics

Comments

[1]	ZHANG Jinghui, LU Xiaotong, MAO Haiyan, TIAN Yazhou, ZHANG Shanlin. Effect of Sintering Additives on Sintering Behavior and Conductivity of BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.2O_3-_δ Electrolytes [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(1): 84-90.
[2]	WANG Wenting, XU Jingjun, MA Ke, LI Meishuan, LI Xingchao, LI Tongqi. Oxidation Behavior at 1000-1300 ℃ in air of Ti₂AlC-20TiB₂ Synthesized by in-situ Reaction/Hot Pressing [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(1): 31-38.
[3]	WANG Weiming, WANG Weide, SU Yi, MA Qingsong, YAO Dongxu, ZENG Yuping. Research Progress of High Thermal Conductivity Silicon Nitride Ceramics Prepared by Non-oxide Sintering Additives [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2024, 39(6): 634-646.
[4]	JIN Min, MA Yupeng, WEI Tianran, LIN Siqi, BAI Xudong, SHI Xun, LIU Xuechao. Growth and Characterization of Large-size InSe Crystal from Non-stoichiometric Solution via a Zone Melting Method [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2024, 39(5): 554-560.
[5]	FAN Jiashun, XIA Donglin, LIU Baoshun. Temperature Dependent Transient Photoconductive Response of CsPbBr₃ NCs [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2023, 38(8): 893-900.
[6]	WANG Shuling, JIANG Meng, WANG Lianjun, JIANG Wan. n-Type Pb-free AgBiSe₂ Based Thermoelectric Materials with Stable Cubic Phase Structure [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2023, 38(7): 807-814.
[7]	CHEN Qiang, BAI Shuxin, YE Yicong. Highly Thermal Conductive Silicon Carbide Ceramics Matrix Composites for Thermal Management: a Review [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2023, 38(6): 634-646.
[8]	ZHANG Shuo, FU Qiangang, ZHANG Pei, FEI Jie, LI Wei. Influence of High Temperature Treatment of C/C Porous Preform on Friction and Wear Behavior of C/C-SiC Composites [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2023, 38(5): 561-568.
[9]	SHANGGUAN Li, NIE Xiaoshuang, YE Kuicai, CUI Yuanyuan, QIAO Yuqin. Effects of Surface Wettability of Titanium Oxide Coatings on Osteoimmunomodulatory Properties [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2023, 38(12): 1457-1565.
[10]	JIANG Runlu, WU Xin, GUO Haocheng, ZHENG Qi, WANG Lianjun, JIANG Wan. UiO-67 Based Conductive Composites: Preparation and Thermoelectric Performance [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2023, 38(11): 1338-1344.
[11]	FU Shi, YANG Zengchao, LI Jiangtao. Progress of High Strength and High Thermal Conductivity Si₃N₄ Ceramics for Power Module Packaging [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2023, 38(10): 1117-1132.
[12]	SUN Xiaofan, CHEN Xiaowu, JIN Xihai, KAN Yanmei, HU Jianbao, DONG Shaoming. Fabrication and Properties of AlN-SiC Multiphase Ceramics via Low Temperature Reactive Melt Infiltration [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2023, 38(10): 1223-1229.
[13]	FU Shi, YANG Zengchao, LI Honghua, WANG Liang, LI Jiangtao. Mechanical Properties and Thermal Conductivity of Si₃N₄ Ceramics with Composite Sintering Additives [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2022, 37(9): 947-953.
[14]	HU Jiajun, WANG Kai, HOU Xinguang, YANG Ting, XIA Hongyan. Boron Phosphide with High Thermal Conductivity: Synthesis by Molten Salt Method and Thermal Management Performance [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2022, 37(9): 933-940.
[15]	WANG Pengjiang, KANG Huijun, YANG Xiong, LIU Ying, CHENG Cheng, WANG Tongmin. Inhibition of Lattice Thermal Conductivity of ZrNiSn-based Half-Heusler Thermoelectric Materials by Entropy Adjustment [J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2022, 37(7): 717-723.