Evaluation of thermal properties of MMCp composites with silver alloy matrix

Silver, silver alloys, and composites with silver matrix are used mainly as electric contacts, circuit-breakers, and slide bearings. Contacts working conditions require as high as possible thermal and electrical conductivity, wear resistance during electric arc work, low susceptibility to tacking, and chemical stability. Unreinforced silver alloys do not meet those expectations, hence increasing interest in metal matrix composites. Reinforcing with ceramic particles improves tribological wear resistance and minimizes formability of silver alloys. At the same time, introduction of ceramic particles decreases thermal and electrical conductivity. In this paper, manufacturing method of silver-based composites reinforced with particles Al 2 O 3 , SiC, and glassy carbon was described. Composites were subjected to differential thermal analysis. Furthermore, thermal diffusivity measurements using laser flash method, as well as measurements of linear thermal expansion coefficient using dilatometric method were performed in order to determine heat conductivity of the prepared composites.