Achieving Enhanced Electrical Contact Performance of Ag/Ti₃AlC₂ with Novel Spherical Micro/Nano Composite Reinforcing Phase

  • Ding, Jianxiang ,
  • Yang, Yang ,
  • ZHANG, Shi-Hong
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    1. 1 Key Laboratory of Green Fabrication and Surface Technology of Advanced Metal Materials, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Technology, Ma’anshan 243002, China
    2. 2 School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma’anshan 243002, China
    3. 3 Goneo Group Co. Ltd., Ningbo 315311, China
    4. 4 Xiamen Hongfa Electroacoustic Co. Ltd., Xiamen 361021, China
    5. 5 Phoenix Contact Asia Pacific Electric (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., Nanjing 211100, China

Received date: 2025-08-01

  Revised date: 2026-05-18

  Accepted date: 2026-05-18

  Online published: 2026-05-18

Supported by

the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No. 52431003,No.52171033); the Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation(No. RZ2400003062); the Industry-University-Research Cooperation Project(No. RH2400002823, No. RH2200003061,No. RH2500000024); the College Students’ Innovative Entrepreneurial Training Plan Program(No. 202510360054,No.S202510360193)

Abstract

Ag-based electric contact materials (ECMs) critically determine the performance of low-voltage switchgear for low-frequency and high-current control. However, these materials suffer from poor environmental friendliness, low tensile strength (< 200 MPa), high material loss (> 5%), and short service life (< 1 × 104 cyc). To improve the comprehensive performance of Ag/Ti3AlC2 ECMs, this study designs a reinforcing phase with a novel composition and structure. For electrical contacting processes, the layered structure of MAX phases and their excellent wettability with metals ensure strong anti-material transfer performance of Ag/MAX composites. However, the interdiffusion between the A-layer atoms of MAX phases and the Ag matrix leads to interfacial solid-solution behavior that deteriorates the electrical conductivity and electrical contact reliability. To create an innovative design of the morphology and structure of MAX phases, this study combines mechanical ball milling, spray granulation, and vacuum heat treatment to prepare large-sized spherical Ti3AlC2-reinforcing phase powders with surface-loaded nano-Al2O3 particles that are subsequently combined with the Ag matrix. The spherical micro- and nano-composite structured reinforcing phase is found to improve the microstructure uniformity of the Ag/Ti3AlC2 material, promote unidirectional diffusion of Ag along the grain boundaries of the spherical reinforcing phase into its interior, and restrict the Ag-Al interdiffusion behavior within the reinforcing phase. Consequently, the resistivity reduced from 5.462 to 4.431 μΩ·cm. The nano-Al2O3 particles on the surface of the spherical reinforcing phase are mainly distributed at the Ag/Ti3AlC2 interface; however, some are detached and dispersed through the matrix. The unidirectional Ag diffusion and distribution of nano-Al2O3 particles collectively enhance the bonding quality of the composite interface, thereby increasing the tensile strength (228.8 MPa), interface surface hardness (140.2 HV), and interfacial nanohardness (3.261 GPa). During 2 × 104 cyc of arc discharging, the microsized spherical Ti3AlC2 reinforcing phase and nanosized Al2O3 particles synergistically increase the viscosity of the molten pool at high temperatures caused by electric arc discharging, effectively restricting the movement of liquid Ag, diminishing the material loss to 1.7%, and thus improving the antiarc erosion performance of Ag/Ti3AlC2 composites. This work provides research ideas and technical references for the performance improvement of Ag-based ECMs.

Cite this article

Ding, Jianxiang , Yang, Yang , ZHANG, Shi-Hong . Achieving Enhanced Electrical Contact Performance of Ag/Ti₃AlC₂ with Novel Spherical Micro/Nano Composite Reinforcing Phase[J]. Acta Metall Sin, 0 : 0 . DOI: 10.11900/0412.1961.2025.00213

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