The present invention relates to a self-lubricating coating comprising a dispersion made of nanoparticles containing sulfur that are incorporated into a silver matrix, wherein the nanoparticles containing sulfur have the composition Ag.sub.2S and/or Au.sub.2S. The present invention furthermore relates to a self-lubricating coating comprising a dispersion made of fluorinated graphene, and/or carbon nanotube (CNT), and/or carbon nanoparticles of the formula (CF).sub.x incorporated into a silver matrix, wherein the fluorinated graphene, CNT, or carbon nanoparticles of the formula (CF).sub.x have a fluorine to carbon ratio of 1 to 1.25. The present invention furthermore relates to a method for the fabrication of the coating, and an electrical contact which comprises such a coating.

An electrical contact apparatus having low silver content and defined thickness and length geometry. The electrical contact apparatus has a contact body made of a silver-containing alloy having SC60 wt. %, and having L/T5.4, wherein L is a longest contact length dimension of the contact body, T is a maximum contact thickness dimension of the contact body, SC is the silver content in wt. %, and L/T is a contact dimension ratio. Electrical contact assemblies, circuit breaker electrical contact subassemblies, and methods of operating a circuit breaker electrical contact subassembly are disclosed, as are other aspects.

A preparation method of an electrical contact material includes steps of: adopting chemical plating to cover nickel coating on aquadag or metallic oxide, then covering with silver coating, and forming AgNiC or AgNiMeO core-shell structure, which improves interface wettability of aquadag, metallic oxide and silver matrix, and removes the adverse effect on the electrical contact material mechanical property due to bad interface wettability in conventional powder metallurgy method. What is important is that the silver in intermediate composite particles is replaced by nickel coating, thus reduce the silver use level. The main function of silver coating is to improve inoxidizability of composite particles, sintering granulation property and the deformability during the manufacturing process of intermediate composite particles, thus improve the technological property.

A preparation method of an electrical contact material includes steps of: adopting chemical plating to cover nickel coating on aquadag or metallic oxide, then covering with silver coating, and forming AgNiC or AgNiMeO core-shell structure, which improves interface wettability of aquadag, metallic oxide and silver matrix, and removes the adverse effect on the electrical contact material mechanical property due to bad interface wettability in conventional powder metallurgy method. What is important is that the silver in intermediate composite particles is replaced by nickel coating, thus reduce the silver use level. The main function of silver coating is to improve inoxidizability of composite particles, sintering granulation property and the deformability during the manufacturing process of intermediate composite particles, thus improve the technological property.

This invention discloses a preparation method for precious metal switching contact components by means of plating masking, plating and etching processes. The plating masking process is performed by using a plating mask ink with or without a photo exposure machine. Plating of precious metals is performed by electroless plating or electro plating methods. Etching is carried out with etching solutions containing weak organic acids, weak inorganic acids or acidic buffering agents. Improvement of the etched surface gloss and prevention of the side etching are realized with the sulfur-contained compounds. The dust- and oil stain-resistances of the switch contacts are improved by increasing the etching depth. The switch contacts made by this invention are featured with the advantages of good reliability, good resistance to dust and oil stain, short contact bounce time, long service life, low cost of raw materials and so on.

This invention discloses a preparation method for precious metal switching contact components by means of plating masking, plating and etching processes. The plating masking process is performed by using a plating mask ink with or without a photo exposure machine. Plating of precious metals is performed by electroless plating or electro plating methods. Etching is carried out with etching solutions containing weak organic acids, weak inorganic acids or acidic buffering agents. Improvement of the etched surface gloss and prevention of the side etching are realized with the sulfur-contained compounds. The dust- and oil stain-resistances of the switch contacts are improved by increasing the etching depth. The switch contacts made by this invention are featured with the advantages of good reliability, good resistance to dust and oil stain, short contact bounce time, long service life, low cost of raw materials and so on.

A fuse-equipped hermetic terminal includes: a housing provided with a hollow portion and a pair of through holes located with the hollow portion being interposed therebetween; a conductive pin extending through the housing via the pair of through holes and the hollow portion; and a pair of insulating sealing materials that each hermetically seal a gap between the conductive pin and a corresponding one of the pair of through holes. Each of the conductive pins includes an inner pin, an outer pin, and a fuse element that bridges between the inner pin and the outer pin and that is located in the hollow portion.

A fuse-equipped hermetic terminal includes: a housing provided with a hollow portion and a pair of through holes located with the hollow portion being interposed therebetween; a conductive pin extending through the housing via the pair of through holes and the hollow portion; and a pair of insulating sealing materials that each hermetically seal a gap between the conductive pin and a corresponding one of the pair of through holes. Each of the conductive pins includes an inner pin, an outer pin, and a fuse element that bridges between the inner pin and the outer pin and that is located in the hollow portion.

An electrical contact material may include a first contact that contacts a negative electrode; a third contact that contacts a positive electrode; and a second contact that is provided between the first contact and the third contact, wherein different plating materials are respectively attached to the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact.

An electrical contact material may include a first contact that contacts a negative electrode; a third contact that contacts a positive electrode; and a second contact that is provided between the first contact and the third contact, wherein different plating materials are respectively attached to the first contact, the second contact, and the third contact.