| The alloying of silver with cadmium produces materials with good arc extinction, good corrosion resistance and low contact resistance characteristics and provides them with good switching capability in AC circuits. They have low transfer characteristics in some DC applications. The alloying increases the strength and hardness, but substantially reduces the thermal and electrical conductivity and thus limits their current handling capability.
The silver-cadmium alloy contacts are ductile materials and can be supplied in shapes and sizes similar to fine silver. ELKONIUM® 18 alloy, in the spring temper condition, has a proportional limit of 33,000 psi, a modulus of elasticity of 10 X 106 psi, good corrosion resistance and is frequently used as a current carrying spring contact. Information provided by NAECO, LLC. |
