Experiment and finite element method analysis mass erosion and transfer of Ag/La ₂ NiO ₄ ‐based electrical contacts during operation

Abstract

Abstract A uniform transient temperature field model of electrical contacts operation was found by analyzing the process of closing arc → constriction resistance Joule heat → breaking arc. Essential parameters of Ag/La 2 NiO 4 electrical contact material for transient temperature field calculation were obtained through tests of electrical contact experimental instrument under 18 V DC in different currents, other correlation experiments, and calculation analysis. The finite element method was applied to solve the transient temperature field, and the features and distribution of the transient temperature field were obtained. The condition of material erosion and mass transfer can be forecasted by those calculation results. It is beneficial to research about the lifetime of Ag/La 2 NiO 4 electrical material.