US3114631A - Silver composition - Google Patents
Silver composition Download PDFInfo
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- US3114631A US3114631A US51671A US5167160A US3114631A US 3114631 A US3114631 A US 3114631A US 51671 A US51671 A US 51671A US 5167160 A US5167160 A US 5167160A US 3114631 A US3114631 A US 3114631A
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- cadmium
- silver
- silicon
- aluminum
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- BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silver Chemical compound [Ag] BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims description 15
- 229910052709 silver Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims description 15
- 239000004332 silver Substances 0.000 title claims description 15
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 title description 7
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 41
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 claims description 41
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 25
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 25
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 25
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 claims description 25
- BDOSMKKIYDKNTQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N cadmium atom Chemical compound [Cd] BDOSMKKIYDKNTQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 15
- 229910052793 cadmium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 14
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000006104 solid solution Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 25
- 235000010210 aluminium Nutrition 0.000 description 24
- CXKCTMHTOKXKQT-UHFFFAOYSA-N cadmium oxide Inorganic materials [Cd]=O CXKCTMHTOKXKQT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 15
- CFEAAQFZALKQPA-UHFFFAOYSA-N cadmium(2+);oxygen(2-) Chemical compound [O-2].[Cd+2] CFEAAQFZALKQPA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 15
- NSAODVHAXBZWGW-UHFFFAOYSA-N cadmium silver Chemical compound [Ag].[Cd] NSAODVHAXBZWGW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 14
- 229910000925 Cd alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 13
- 239000013078 crystal Substances 0.000 description 10
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000035882 stress Effects 0.000 description 4
- 229910001316 Ag alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- ASMQPJTXPYCZBL-UHFFFAOYSA-N [O-2].[Cd+2].[Ag+] Chemical compound [O-2].[Cd+2].[Ag+] ASMQPJTXPYCZBL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005336 cracking Methods 0.000 description 2
- PSFDQSOCUJVVGF-UHFFFAOYSA-N harman Chemical compound C12=CC=CC=C2NC2=C1C=CN=C2C PSFDQSOCUJVVGF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000009931 harmful effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000006911 nucleation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010899 nucleation Methods 0.000 description 2
- TWNQGVIAIRXVLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N oxo(oxoalumanyloxy)alumane Chemical compound O=[Al]O[Al]=O TWNQGVIAIRXVLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- WHXSMMKQMYFTQS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Lithium Chemical compound [Li] WHXSMMKQMYFTQS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- XNRNVYYTHRPBDD-UHFFFAOYSA-N [Si][Ag] Chemical class [Si][Ag] XNRNVYYTHRPBDD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003776 cleavage reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 1
- OANFWJQPUHQWDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N copper iron manganese nickel Chemical compound [Mn].[Fe].[Ni].[Cu] OANFWJQPUHQWDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006355 external stress Effects 0.000 description 1
- BHEPBYXIRTUNPN-UHFFFAOYSA-N hydridophosphorus(.) (triplet) Chemical compound [PH] BHEPBYXIRTUNPN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052744 lithium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910044991 metal oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000004706 metal oxides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001590 oxidative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004663 powder metallurgy Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007017 scission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052814 silicon oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H1/00—Contacts
- H01H1/02—Contacts characterised by the material thereof
- H01H1/021—Composite material
- H01H1/023—Composite material having a noble metal as the basic material
- H01H1/0237—Composite material having a noble metal as the basic material and containing oxides
- H01H1/02372—Composite material having a noble metal as the basic material and containing oxides containing as major components one or more oxides of the following elements only: Cd, Sn, Zn, In, Bi, Sb or Te
- H01H1/02374—Composite material having a noble metal as the basic material and containing oxides containing as major components one or more oxides of the following elements only: Cd, Sn, Zn, In, Bi, Sb or Te containing as major component CdO
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C32/00—Non-ferrous alloys containing at least 5% by weight but less than 50% by weight of oxides, carbides, borides, nitrides, silicides or other metal compounds, e.g. oxynitrides, sulfides, whether added as such or formed in situ
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C32/00—Non-ferrous alloys containing at least 5% by weight but less than 50% by weight of oxides, carbides, borides, nitrides, silicides or other metal compounds, e.g. oxynitrides, sulfides, whether added as such or formed in situ
- C22C32/001—Non-ferrous alloys containing at least 5% by weight but less than 50% by weight of oxides, carbides, borides, nitrides, silicides or other metal compounds, e.g. oxynitrides, sulfides, whether added as such or formed in situ with only oxides
- C22C32/0015—Non-ferrous alloys containing at least 5% by weight but less than 50% by weight of oxides, carbides, borides, nitrides, silicides or other metal compounds, e.g. oxynitrides, sulfides, whether added as such or formed in situ with only oxides with only single oxides as main non-metallic constituents
- C22C32/0021—Matrix based on noble metals, Cu or alloys thereof
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C5/00—Alloys based on noble metals
- C22C5/06—Alloys based on silver
- C22C5/10—Alloys based on silver with cadmium as the next major constituent
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C8/00—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals
- C23C8/06—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using gases
- C23C8/08—Solid state diffusion of only non-metal elements into metallic material surfaces; Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using gases only one element being applied
- C23C8/10—Oxidising
Definitions
- This invention relates to alloys for use in making electrical contacts for switches, relays, circuit breakers and the like. More particularly, it relates to silver-cadmium alloys which can be internally oxidized without adverse effect owing to the presence in the alloy of a small amount of silicon or aluminum or both.
- the invention contemplates providing the alloy in either unoxidized or internally oxidized form, and it further contemplates the provision of cold-Worked electrical contacts formed from the internally oxidized alloy and a method of making such contacts.
- Cadmium oxide-silver compositions have long been recognized as superior materials for use in making electrical contacts of the type described. Powder metallurgy was originally relied upon for forming the desired combination of metal and metal oxide, but it is the usual practice now to cold-form the finished parts from silver-cadmium alloy wire and then internally oxidize them to provide a silver matrix in which cadmium oxide is dispersed. This method is by no means completely satisfactory, however, because the finished contacts are very often brittle and marred by longitudinal surface cracks as a result of the final oxidation step. Also, the process of internal oxidation must be carried out by the manufacturer of the contacts rather than by the supplier of the silver-cadmium wire.
- a new electrical contact alloy of from 2 to 20 percent by weight of cadmium, from 4 to 18X l percent by weight of at least one element taken from the group consisting of aluminum and silicon, and the balance essentially all silver.
- the invention also provides the new alloy in the internally oxidized condition. It then includes the oxides of cadmium and of said element (aluminum or silicon) in a silver matrix, the cadmium oxide being characteristically in the form of substantially sphertates atent ice ical nodules substantially uniformly dispersed throughout the matrix, rather than platelets.
- Electrical contacts are made in accordance with the invention by internally oxidizing an alloy of from 2 to 5 20 percent by weight of cadmium, from 4 to 18 10 percent by weight of at least one element taken from the group consisting of aluminum and silicon, and the balance essentially silver, and thereafter cold-forming the alloy into electrical contacts.
- FIG. 1 shows the microstructure of an internally oxi dized alloy of silver and cadmium
- FIG. 2 shows the microstructure of an internally oxidized silver-cadmium alloy containing silicon or alumi num in the percentages contemplated by the invention.
- FIG. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing are referred to in the table to show the microstructure of the old and new alloys respectively.
- the fine nodular form of the cadmium oxide provides considerably more ductility and workability than in the alloy of FIG. 1.
- this uniformity in the FIG. 2 alloy is believed to be caused by nucleation of the cadmium oxide by crystals of aluminum or silicon oxide, about which the cadmium oxide crystallizes in intricately dispersed spheroidal form. Because of their higher heats of formation, the oxides of aluminum and silicon are formed closer behind the advancing oxidation front, during oxidation of the alloy, than does cadmium oxide; and because the silicon or aluminum content is in solid solution, their oxides are formed very uniformly dispersed throughout the alloy.
- An alloy of 91 percent by weight of silver and 9 percent by weight of cadmium was melted by conventional means and heated to about 2000 F.
- Silicon metal in the form of a silicon-silver master alloy, was added to the silver-cadmium melt in an amount equivalent to 12x10 percent by weight.
- the melt was then cast, rolled into rods, and drawn into wire of 0.120 inch in diameter.
- This wire was internally oxidized by heating at 1550 F. in air for 72 hours. After such oxidation, the wire was sufficiently ductile to be cold drawn to .090 inch in diameter. It was then annealed at 1000 F. and was cold drawn to .088 inch in diameter. Finally, it was cold-headed into the rivet form typical of an electrical contact. The finished contacts were hard in the headed portion and free of cracks.
- an alloy of 91 percent by Weight of silver and 9 percent by weight of cadmium was prepared and heated to 200 P. Then 8 x" percent by weight of aluminum was added to the melt and the metal was cast, rolled, and drawn into wire 0.120 inch in diameter. After internal oxidation by heating at 1550 F. in air for 72 hours, the wire was cold drawn to .090 inch in diameter, annealed at 1000 F and cold finished to .088 inch in diameter. The wire was then cold-headed to form rivets which were hard in the headed portion and free from surface cracks.
- silicon and aluminum are both highly effective for making the new contact alloys. In certain instances, however, silicon may be preferred because it does not produce as much dross during melting as does aluminum. Moreover, silicon is preferred for production because its presence in casting shops where silver alloys are being melted is unobjectionable, whereas aluminum is sometimes sought to be excluded from such shops because it is an objectionable contaminant in other silver alloys being produced.
- compositions of silver-cadmium oxide which have been commercially produced heretofor may be prepared in accordance with the invention.
- Such compositions generally contain from 2 to percent by weight of cadmium and the balance essentially silver.
- the most commonly used materials are these nominally containing 10 to 15 percent by weight of cadmium.
- Impurities normally'present in silver-cadmium alloys, or silver-cadmium oxide compositions, may be present without harmful effect in the alloys of this invention.
- the silicon and aluminum additives which modify the alloy structure in accordance with the invention may be used singly or together. When used jointly their total amount preferably is in the same range as for either one alone when used singly, that is at least 4 10 percent by weight but not more than 18x10 percent by weight of the alloy. In most instances, the preferred range for the silicon or aluminum is from 5 to 12x10 percent by weight.
- An internally oxidized alloy produced by the internal oxidation of a solid solution alloy consisting essentially of cadmium in an amount of from 2% to 20%, by weight, from 4 to l8 10 percent, by Weight, of at least one element from the group consisting of aluminum and silicon and the balance silver, said cadmium being substantially in the form of spherical oxide nodules substantially uniformly dispersed throughout the silver matrix.
- An electrical contact element composed of an alloy according to claim 1 in the plastically-deformed cold worked condition.
- An electrical contact element composed of an alloy according to claim 3 in the plastically-deformed coldworked condition.
- An internally oxidized alloy according to claim 1 in which cadmium is present in the alloy in amount of from 10 to 15 percent, by weight, and the element from said group is silicon and is present in the alloy in an amount from 5 to 12 1O- percent, by weight.
- An electrical contact element composed of the internally oxidized alloy of claim 5 in the plasticallydeformed cold-worked condition.
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Composite Materials (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Contacts (AREA)
- Conductive Materials (AREA)
- Manufacture Of Switches (AREA)
Description
Dec. 17, 1963 G. H. SISTARE ETAL SILVER COMPOSITION Filed Aug. 24, 1960 FIG. I
Plain silver-cadmium alloy 400 diameters magnification FIG. 2
Silver-cadmium alloy with additive 400 diameters magnification INVENTORS GEORGE H. SISTARE (LDICKEY COXE Quin. Eluowb Wnkow3M-n A inf-a,
ATTORNEYS 3,114,631 HIVER COMPOSITION George H. Sistare and Charles D. (Ioxe, Fairfield, Conm, assignors to Handy & Harman, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 51,671 6 Claims. (Cl. 75173) This invention relates to alloys for use in making electrical contacts for switches, relays, circuit breakers and the like. More particularly, it relates to silver-cadmium alloys which can be internally oxidized without adverse effect owing to the presence in the alloy of a small amount of silicon or aluminum or both. The invention contemplates providing the alloy in either unoxidized or internally oxidized form, and it further contemplates the provision of cold-Worked electrical contacts formed from the internally oxidized alloy and a method of making such contacts.
Cadmium oxide-silver compositions have long been recognized as superior materials for use in making electrical contacts of the type described. Powder metallurgy was originally relied upon for forming the desired combination of metal and metal oxide, but it is the usual practice now to cold-form the finished parts from silver-cadmium alloy wire and then internally oxidize them to provide a silver matrix in which cadmium oxide is dispersed. This method is by no means completely satisfactory, however, because the finished contacts are very often brittle and marred by longitudinal surface cracks as a result of the final oxidation step. Also, the process of internal oxidation must be carried out by the manufacturer of the contacts rather than by the supplier of the silver-cadmium wire.
The ultimate cause of the brittleness and longitudinal surface cracks characteristic of conventional internally oxidized electrical contacts is not known with complete certainty, but it appears that the platelet form in which the cadmium oxide appears in the silver matrix is a contributing factor. During oxidation, the cadmium oxide crystals grow rapidly at the interfaces of the relatively larger crystals of silver to form fiat platelets or flakes, and so produce dominant planes of cleavage in the structure at which later applied internal or external stresses tend to cause failure by cracking. The internal oxidation process itself sets up severe internal stresses (primarily hoop stresses) which produce the characteristic cracks along these planes of clevage. These stresses are due to the fact that as oxidation proceeds inwardly from the surface of the part to the core, it is accompanied by volumetric expansion; and as the interior of the alloy oxidizes and expands it subjects the previously oxidized outer layer to stresses which cause cracks to open at the surface along the planes defined by the platelets of cadmium oxide.
It is the primary purpose of the present invention to provide a silver-cadmium alloy for use in making electrical contacts which is not susceptible to such surface cracking when internally oxidized and which is even sufficiently ductile and workable after oxidation to be oxidized while still in the form of wire and later fabricated by cold-forming into finished contacts.
These objects are achieved according to the invention by a new electrical contact alloy of from 2 to 20 percent by weight of cadmium, from 4 to 18X l percent by weight of at least one element taken from the group consisting of aluminum and silicon, and the balance essentially all silver. The invention also provides the new alloy in the internally oxidized condition. It then includes the oxides of cadmium and of said element (aluminum or silicon) in a silver matrix, the cadmium oxide being characteristically in the form of substantially sphertates atent ice ical nodules substantially uniformly dispersed throughout the matrix, rather than platelets.
Electrical contacts are made in accordance with the invention by internally oxidizing an alloy of from 2 to 5 20 percent by weight of cadmium, from 4 to 18 10 percent by weight of at least one element taken from the group consisting of aluminum and silicon, and the balance essentially silver, and thereafter cold-forming the alloy into electrical contacts.
The invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 shows the microstructure of an internally oxi dized alloy of silver and cadmium; and
FIG. 2 shows the microstructure of an internally oxidized silver-cadmium alloy containing silicon or alumi num in the percentages contemplated by the invention.
It has been discovered that by the addition of small amounts of silicon or aluminum or both to a silver-cadmium alloy as described, the resulting cadmium oxide crystals form in substantially spherical nodules, not platelets or flakes, which are substantially uniformly dispersed throughout the matrix. As a result the ductility of the oxidized alloy is considerably improved. The distinct nodular form of the cadmium oxide crystals which typifies the new alloy appears to result from nucleation of the crystallizing cadmium oxide by previously formed evenly dispersed small crystals of silicon or aluminum oxide. This even dispersion and prior formation of the silicon or aluminum oxide crystals results from the fact that low concentrations of both silicon and aluminum are in solid solution in the silver-cadmium alloy before oxidation, and their oxides have significantly higher heats of formation that cadmium oxide. Hence, the silicon or aluminum oxidizes first as the alloy is subjected to oxidation, and provides uniformly dispersed crystal nuclei about which the cadmium oxide crystals form. It is clear, therefore, that the solid solubility in a silver-cadmium alloy and the higher heat of formation of their oxides than cadmium oxide are properties of both silicon and aluminum which contribute to the remarkable success of the new alloy.
The advantages of the new alloy are shown clearly in the table below, wherein a conventional internally oxidized silver-cadmium alloy containing 9% cadmium is compared to similar alloys which are modified by the addition of aluminum and silicon in accordance with the invention. FIG. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing are referred to in the table to show the microstructure of the old and new alloys respectively.
Weight Ultimate Elou- Freedom Con- Additive Percent Strength, gation, From tact Crystal 10- 1,000 Percent Surface Heads Structure p.s.i. Cracks 0 31-35 21-25 Poor Poor Fig. 1. 5. 5 32-36 16-20 Good Goo Fig. 2. 11 32-36 16-20 do do Fig. 2. 5.5 B l-38 16-20 o do Fig.2. D 11 34-38 16-20 do do Fig. 2. Aluminum 22 30-34 3-7 Poor Poor Fig. 2. Silicon 22 31-35 9-13 do do. Fig.2.
the fine nodular form of the cadmium oxide, provides considerably more ductility and workability than in the alloy of FIG. 1. As mentioned previously, this uniformity in the FIG. 2 alloy is believed to be caused by nucleation of the cadmium oxide by crystals of aluminum or silicon oxide, about which the cadmium oxide crystallizes in intricately dispersed spheroidal form. Because of their higher heats of formation, the oxides of aluminum and silicon are formed closer behind the advancing oxidation front, during oxidation of the alloy, than does cadmium oxide; and because the silicon or aluminum content is in solid solution, their oxides are formed very uniformly dispersed throughout the alloy.
It is to be noted that aluminum and silicon do not achieve this advantageous structural modification of the silver-cadmium alloy on account of their deoxidizing properties. Indeed, many deoxidizers, such as lithium and phosphorous (which are among these most commonly used), not only do not improve the alloy structure but actually reduce its ductility and workability.
Following is an example of the preparation of an electrical contact in accordance with the invention: An alloy of 91 percent by weight of silver and 9 percent by weight of cadmium was melted by conventional means and heated to about 2000 F. Silicon metal, in the form of a silicon-silver master alloy, was added to the silver-cadmium melt in an amount equivalent to 12x10 percent by weight. The melt was then cast, rolled into rods, and drawn into wire of 0.120 inch in diameter. This wire was internally oxidized by heating at 1550 F. in air for 72 hours. After such oxidation, the wire was sufficiently ductile to be cold drawn to .090 inch in diameter. It was then annealed at 1000 F. and was cold drawn to .088 inch in diameter. Finally, it was cold-headed into the rivet form typical of an electrical contact. The finished contacts were hard in the headed portion and free of cracks.
In another example of the invention, an alloy of 91 percent by Weight of silver and 9 percent by weight of cadmium was prepared and heated to 200 P. Then 8 x" percent by weight of aluminum was added to the melt and the metal was cast, rolled, and drawn into wire 0.120 inch in diameter. After internal oxidation by heating at 1550 F. in air for 72 hours, the wire was cold drawn to .090 inch in diameter, annealed at 1000 F and cold finished to .088 inch in diameter. The wire was then cold-headed to form rivets which were hard in the headed portion and free from surface cracks.
It is apparent from these examples that silicon and aluminum are both highly effective for making the new contact alloys. In certain instances, however, silicon may be preferred because it does not produce as much dross during melting as does aluminum. Moreover, silicon is preferred for production because its presence in casting shops where silver alloys are being melted is unobjectionable, whereas aluminum is sometimes sought to be excluded from such shops because it is an objectionable contaminant in other silver alloys being produced.
Any of the nominal compositions of silver-cadmium oxide which have been commercially produced heretofor may be prepared in accordance with the invention. Such compositions generally contain from 2 to percent by weight of cadmium and the balance essentially silver. The most commonly used materials, however, are these nominally containing 10 to 15 percent by weight of cadmium. Impurities normally'present in silver-cadmium alloys, or silver-cadmium oxide compositions, may be present without harmful effect in the alloys of this invention.
The silicon and aluminum additives which modify the alloy structure in accordance with the invention may be used singly or together. When used jointly their total amount preferably is in the same range as for either one alone when used singly, that is at least 4 10 percent by weight but not more than 18x10 percent by weight of the alloy. In most instances, the preferred range for the silicon or aluminum is from 5 to 12x10 percent by weight.
Less than about *4 10 percent of silicon or aluminum or their combined total is not suficient for the purposes of this invention, and more than about 18x10- percent is harmful to the properties of the alloy as shown in the last two items of the table in column 2.
We claim:
1. An internally oxidized alloy produced by the internal oxidation of a solid solution alloy consisting essentially of cadmium in an amount of from 2% to 20%, by weight, from 4 to l8 10 percent, by Weight, of at least one element from the group consisting of aluminum and silicon and the balance silver, said cadmium being substantially in the form of spherical oxide nodules substantially uniformly dispersed throughout the silver matrix.
2. An electrical contact element composed of an alloy according to claim 1 in the plastically-deformed cold worked condition.
3. An internally oxidized alloy according to claim 1 in which the cadmium is present in an amount of from about 10 to 15 percent, by weight, and the element of said group is aluminum and is present in the alloy in amount of from 5 to 12 l0 percent by weight.
4. An electrical contact element composed of an alloy according to claim 3 in the plastically-deformed coldworked condition.
5. An internally oxidized alloy according to claim 1 in which cadmium is present in the alloy in amount of from 10 to 15 percent, by weight, and the element from said group is silicon and is present in the alloy in an amount from 5 to 12 1O- percent, by weight.
6. An electrical contact element composed of the internally oxidized alloy of claim 5 in the plasticallydeformed cold-worked condition.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,258,492 Hensel et al Oct. 7, 1941 2,396,101 Hensel et a1 Mar. 5, 1946 2,796,346 Stumbock June 18, 1957 2,932,595 Pfiurnm Apr. 12, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 611,813 Great Britain Nov. 4, 1948 542,630 Canada June 25, 1957
Claims (1)
1. AN INTERNALLY OXIDIZED ALLOY PRODUCED BY THE INTERNAL OXIDATION OF A SOLID SOLUTION ALLOY CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF CADMIUM IN AN AMOUNT OF FROM 2% TO 20%, BY WEIGHT, FROM 4 TO 18X10-3 PERCENT, BY WEIGHT, OF AT LEAST ONE ELEMENT FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALUMINUM AND SILICON AND THE BALANCE SILVER, SAID CADMIUM BEING SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FORM OF SPHERICAL OXIDE NODULES SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORMLY DISPERSED THROUGHOUT THE SILVER MATRIX.
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US51671A US3114631A (en) | 1960-08-24 | 1960-08-24 | Silver composition |
GB28041/61A GB909349A (en) | 1960-08-24 | 1961-08-02 | Improvements in and relating to alloys or metal compositions for use in the manufacture of electrical contacts |
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US51671A US3114631A (en) | 1960-08-24 | 1960-08-24 | Silver composition |
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US51671A Expired - Lifetime US3114631A (en) | 1960-08-24 | 1960-08-24 | Silver composition |
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Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3385677A (en) * | 1965-06-30 | 1968-05-28 | Siemens Ag | Sintered composition material |
US3506437A (en) * | 1967-11-07 | 1970-04-14 | Textron Inc | Method for making silver/cadmium oxide contact materials |
US3540883A (en) * | 1968-10-29 | 1970-11-17 | Texas Instruments Inc | Method of preparing silver base alloys |
US3688067A (en) * | 1971-02-08 | 1972-08-29 | Chugai Electric Ind Co Ltd | Composite silver cadmium oxide alloy contact with silver cadium surface |
US3893820A (en) * | 1971-10-27 | 1975-07-08 | Square D Co | Cu-{8 Ag{9 -CdO electric contact materials |
US3913201A (en) * | 1968-07-05 | 1975-10-21 | Siemens Ag | Bonded material for electrical contact pieces |
US3932936A (en) * | 1973-07-21 | 1976-01-20 | Dr. Eugene Durrwachter Doduco | Method of manufacturing a ductile silver metallic oxide semi-finished product contacts |
US3932935A (en) * | 1973-03-03 | 1976-01-20 | Dr. Eugene Durrwachter Doduco | Method for manufacturing a ductile silver metallic oxide semi-product |
US3969112A (en) * | 1974-11-11 | 1976-07-13 | Gte Laboratories Incorporated | Process for preparing silver-cadmium oxide alloys |
US6760606B1 (en) * | 1999-08-20 | 2004-07-06 | Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. | Auxiliary material for superconductive material |
US10067228B1 (en) * | 2017-09-11 | 2018-09-04 | R2Sonic, Llc | Hyperspectral sonar |
US10132924B2 (en) * | 2016-04-29 | 2018-11-20 | R2Sonic, Llc | Multimission and multispectral sonar |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4279649A (en) | 1978-06-16 | 1981-07-21 | Nippon Telegraph And Telephone Public Corporation | Electrical contact material |
US4330331A (en) | 1978-06-16 | 1982-05-18 | Nippon Telegraph And Telephone Public Corporation | Electric contact material and method of producing the same |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2258492A (en) * | 1939-06-05 | 1941-10-07 | Mallory & Co Inc P R | Electric contacting element |
US2396101A (en) * | 1942-10-23 | 1946-03-05 | Mallory & Co Inc P R | Electrical contact |
GB611813A (en) * | 1945-07-28 | 1948-11-04 | Mallory Metallurg Prod Ltd | Improvements in and relating to the production of metal-metal oxide compositions or alloys |
US2796346A (en) * | 1955-04-28 | 1957-06-18 | Baker & Co Inc | Electrical contact material |
CA542630A (en) * | 1957-06-25 | J. Stumbock Max | Spark plug electrode | |
US2932595A (en) * | 1958-03-31 | 1960-04-12 | Texas Instruments Inc | Silver base alloy for use as electrical contact member and method of making same |
-
1960
- 1960-08-24 US US51671A patent/US3114631A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1961
- 1961-08-02 GB GB28041/61A patent/GB909349A/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CA542630A (en) * | 1957-06-25 | J. Stumbock Max | Spark plug electrode | |
US2258492A (en) * | 1939-06-05 | 1941-10-07 | Mallory & Co Inc P R | Electric contacting element |
US2396101A (en) * | 1942-10-23 | 1946-03-05 | Mallory & Co Inc P R | Electrical contact |
GB611813A (en) * | 1945-07-28 | 1948-11-04 | Mallory Metallurg Prod Ltd | Improvements in and relating to the production of metal-metal oxide compositions or alloys |
US2796346A (en) * | 1955-04-28 | 1957-06-18 | Baker & Co Inc | Electrical contact material |
US2932595A (en) * | 1958-03-31 | 1960-04-12 | Texas Instruments Inc | Silver base alloy for use as electrical contact member and method of making same |
Cited By (17)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3385677A (en) * | 1965-06-30 | 1968-05-28 | Siemens Ag | Sintered composition material |
US3506437A (en) * | 1967-11-07 | 1970-04-14 | Textron Inc | Method for making silver/cadmium oxide contact materials |
US3913201A (en) * | 1968-07-05 | 1975-10-21 | Siemens Ag | Bonded material for electrical contact pieces |
US3540883A (en) * | 1968-10-29 | 1970-11-17 | Texas Instruments Inc | Method of preparing silver base alloys |
US3688067A (en) * | 1971-02-08 | 1972-08-29 | Chugai Electric Ind Co Ltd | Composite silver cadmium oxide alloy contact with silver cadium surface |
US3893820A (en) * | 1971-10-27 | 1975-07-08 | Square D Co | Cu-{8 Ag{9 -CdO electric contact materials |
US3932935A (en) * | 1973-03-03 | 1976-01-20 | Dr. Eugene Durrwachter Doduco | Method for manufacturing a ductile silver metallic oxide semi-product |
US3932936A (en) * | 1973-07-21 | 1976-01-20 | Dr. Eugene Durrwachter Doduco | Method of manufacturing a ductile silver metallic oxide semi-finished product contacts |
US3969112A (en) * | 1974-11-11 | 1976-07-13 | Gte Laboratories Incorporated | Process for preparing silver-cadmium oxide alloys |
US6760606B1 (en) * | 1999-08-20 | 2004-07-06 | Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. | Auxiliary material for superconductive material |
US10132924B2 (en) * | 2016-04-29 | 2018-11-20 | R2Sonic, Llc | Multimission and multispectral sonar |
US11079490B2 (en) | 2016-04-29 | 2021-08-03 | R2Sonic, Llc | Multimission and multispectral sonar |
US11774587B2 (en) | 2016-04-29 | 2023-10-03 | R2Sonic, Llc | Multimission and multispectral sonar |
US11846705B2 (en) | 2016-04-29 | 2023-12-19 | R3 Vox Ltd | Multimission and multispectral sonar |
US10067228B1 (en) * | 2017-09-11 | 2018-09-04 | R2Sonic, Llc | Hyperspectral sonar |
US11054521B2 (en) * | 2017-09-11 | 2021-07-06 | R2Sonic, Llc | Hyperspectral sonar |
US11846703B2 (en) | 2017-09-11 | 2023-12-19 | R3Vox Ltd | Hyperspectral sonar |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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GB909349A (en) | 1962-10-31 |
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