AN ADVANCED SILVER TIN OXIDE CONTACT MATERIAL

A new silver/tin oxide contact material is presented which is based on the utilization of tin oxide powders produced with the aid of the so- called ''spray roasting'' or ''reaction spray'' process. The contact p roperties of this new material were tested in a model switch as well a s in commercially available contactors of different sizes and designs. The investigations carried out comprise tests of service life for dif ferent utilization categories, thermal behavior under continuous curre nt, and welding on make. It was found, that by varying additives and p roduction parameters in the ''reaction spray' process for the tin oxid e powders contact materials can be produced, which are superior in per formance to conventionally manufactured p.m. type silver/tin oxide mat erials.