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Zawartość zarchiwizowana w dniu 2019-03-15

DEVELOPMENT OF RUTHENIUM DIOXIDE- INFILTRATED CONTACT MATERIALS.

Cel

TO DEVELOP IMPROVED AND LESS EXPENSIVE CONTACT MATERIALS BY INCORPORATING HIGHLY-CONDUCTING MICROPARTICLES OF RUO2-BASED, MIXED OXIDE SYSTEMS INTO ELECTROPLATED METAL OR ALLOY FILMS SUCH AS CU, NI AND PB-SN.

THE MAIN PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF NON-NOBLE METALS AND ALLOYS IN CONTACT APPLICATIONS IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESISTANCE, AND POTENTIAL DROP, ASSOCIATED WITH SURFACE FILM FORMATION AS A RESULT OF TARNISHING REACTIONS. IN THIS PROJECT, IT IS AIMED TO MINIMIZE OR ELIMINATE SUCH RESISTIVE EFFECTS BY INCORPORATING A METALLIC CONDUCTING OXIDE, IN MICROCRYSTALLINE FORM, INTO THE ELECTROPLATED LAYER. TECHNIQUES FOR DEPOSITING SUCH COMPOSITE MATERIAL SUCH AS INCORPORATING ABRASIVES INTO NICKEL ELECTRODEPOSITS TO IMPROVE THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE LAYER WILL BE CONTRIVED. WITH A SUFFICIENTLY FOREIGN MATERIAL, SHOULD BE OBTAINABLE. RUTHENIUM DIOXIDE HAS AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY EQUAL TO THAT OF MERCURY, AND THE PRESENCE OF MICROPARTICLES OF RESISTANCE ASSOCIATED WITH SURFACE FILM FORMATION. TO MINIMIZE THE COST OF RUTHENIUM (WHICH IS THE CHEAPEST OF THE NOBLE METALS) IT IS PROPOSED TO INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY OF USING RUTHENIUM DIOXIDE-COATED PARTICLES (OF A LESS EXPENSIVE OXIDE) IN THIS AREA. SUITABLE OXIDE-COATING PROCEDURES WILL BE APPLIED. IT IS LIKELY THAT BY INCREASING THE WEAR RESISTANCE, THE PRESENCE OF THE OXIDE MICROPARTICLES WILL PROLONG THE SERVICE LIFE OF THE CONTACT AND EXTEND ITS AREA OF APPLICATION TO MORE DEMANDING OPERATING CONDITIONS. THE POSSIBILITY OF CO-INCORPORATING SOME GRAPHITE, TO IMPROVE THE LUBRICATION PROPERTIES OFTHE CONTACT, WILL ALSO BE EXPLORED.

APART FROM THE STANDARD TESTS OF THE ELECTRODEPOSIT, SPECIFIC TESTS SUCH AS FILM RESISTANCE, CONTACT RESISTANCE AND WEAR RESISTANCE MEASUREMRNTS, OF INTEREST TO THE ELECTRICAL CONTACT INDUSTRY WILL BE EMPLOYED. IT IS ENVISAGED THAT INITIALLY WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT WITH LEAD/TIN ALLOYS BUT AT A LATER PHASE OF THE PROJECT VARIOUS OTHER METAL AND ALLOYS SYSTEMS WILL BE EXAMINED WITH A VIEW TO OPTIMIZING THE PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS. IT IS PROPOSED TO INVITE GOVERNMENTAL LABORATORIES (IRISH INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH STANDARDS, IRELAND) AND INDUSTRIAL FIRMS (SUCH AS MOLEX SA, SHANNON, IRELAND) TO PARTICIPATE DURING THE LATTER PART OF THIS PROJECT IN TESTING AND EXPLORATION OF THE RESULTS OBTAINED.

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Koordynator

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
Wkład UE
Brak danych
Adres
DEPT.OF CHEMISTRY
CORK
Irlandia

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