Electrical contact performance of various electro-deposited graphene reinforced silver-based nanocomposites

Silver and silver(Ag)-graphene(Gr) nanocomposite coatings were prepared via direct current, pulse current and pulse reverse current on copper electrical contacts for evaluating electrical contact performance. The effects of the addition of Gr and current types on microstructure, crystallographic orientation, mechanical properties and electrical contact performance were investigataed via a scanning electron microscope, an X-Ray diffractometer, microhardness test device and an electrical contact test device, respectively. The addition of Gr changed the Ag surface morphology and decreased grain sizes. Moreover, the addition of Gr significantly improved arc erosion resistivity and decreased the average working temperature during the contact test. In addition, pulse current and pulse reverse current provided a significant improvement in microhardness and electrical contact erosion resistance owing to increased embedded graphene amounts in silver layers.