Silver Tungsten Carbide Description

1. Overview
Silver tungsten carbide (AgWC) is a composite electrical contact material consisting of silver (Ag) and tungsten carbide (WC). It combines silver's high electrical conductivity with the hardness and arc erosion resistance of tungsten carbide. Compared to silver tungsten (AgW), AgWC provides improved anti-welding characteristics and reduced material transfer, making it ideal for electrical switching devices under frequent or severe arc conditions.

2.Key Properties
Excellent electrical conductivity
Superior arc erosion resistance
High resistance to welding and sticking
High hardness and wear resistance
Outstanding thermal stability for high-load applications

3.Main Applications
Contacts for high-voltage circuit breakers
Medium- and high-voltage AC/DC contactors
Electrical contacts in industrial automation systems
Protective and control devices in power systems
Railway and heavy-duty electrical switches

4.Manufacturing Process
AgWC is manufactured using a powder metallurgy and vacuum infiltration process. First, tungsten carbide powder is pressed into a preformed shape and sintered at high temperature to create a dense WC block. Then, molten silver is infiltrated into the tungsten carbide block under vacuum conditions, resulting in a compact and well-bonded composite structure. This method ensures excellent mechanical strength, electrical performance, and long-term stability of the material.