Structure and electrical erosion resistance of an electro-explosive coating of the CuO–Ag system

For the first time, electroerosion-resistant coatings of the CuO–Ag system were obtained by electro-explosive spraying. The coating structure was investigated by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The formed coating is a homogeneous composite material consisting of a silver matrix and CuO inclusions located in it. The composite electro-explosive coating of CuO–Ag system is obtained on copper electric contact of contactor KPV-604. Tests of sprayed coatings for electrical erosion resistance under arc erosion conditions were carried out. A formation mechanism of hierarchical levels of the structure of electro-explosive coatings was suggested. The mechanism is based on theoretical concepts of the formation and evolution of fractal aggregates with diffusion-limited and cluster-cluster aggregations of the CuO. Based on the electrical properties of silver and copper oxide, the dependence of electrical contact resistance on the number of on/off cycles in the process of testing for electrical erosion resistance is substantiated.