Effect of sintering temperature on the physical properties and electrical contact properties of doped AgSnO2 contact materials

AgSnO2 electrical contact materials doped with Bi2O3,La2O3,and TiO2were successfully fabricated by the powder metallurgy method under different initial sintering temperatures.The electrical conductivity,density,hardness,and contact resistance of the Ag Sn O2/Bi2O3,AgSnO2/La2O3,and AgSnO2/Ti O2contact materials were measured and analyzed.The arc-eroded surface morphologies of the doped AgSnO2contact materials were investigated by scanning electron microscopy(SEM).The effects of the initial sintering temperature on the physical properties and electrical contact properties of the doped AgSnO2contact materials were discussed.The results indicate that the physical properties can be improved and the contact resistance of the AgSnO2contact materials can be substantially reduced when the materials are sintered under their optimal initial sintering temperatures.