Ag/SnO2

Silver Tin Oxide

Powder Metallurgical
Ag/SnO2

Silver Tin Oxide

Powder Metallurgical

SCOPE: This information refers to silver tin oxide wires, profiles and contact tips manufactured by blending of silver and
metal oxide powder without (SP) or with additives (SPW / PMT), compacting, sintering, extruding and drawing or
rolling to final dimension. Profiles and tips are available with a backing layer of silver and optionally with an additional
layer of a brazing alloy.

Designation of standard compositions Characteristics Microstructure

The silver content is designated by the » best anti-welding properties on make of The micron sized SnO2 particles
first number: e. g. Ag / SnO2 88 / 12 with all silver metal oxide variants up to are oriented slightly along
88 wt.-% silver, balance metal oxides. currents of 5000 A (increasing with higher the direction of extrusion.
The typical gradation of the latter are 8, 10, oxide content)
12 and 14. Additives improve the switching » lowest erosion rate of all silver metal oxide
behaviour of the different materials. materials for currents exceeding 100 A
» significantly less material migration
Applications compared to Ag / CdO and Ag / ZnO
» contactors » low contact resistance comparable to other
» automotive relays silver metal oxides
» power line relays » special additives keep the contact Ag / SnO2 92 / 8 SPW
» earth leakage breakers, resistance stable throughout the service life longitudinal section
miniature circuit breakers » excellent arc extinguishing properties
» switches for domestic applications, » RoHS + ELV conform
main switches
» circuit breakers up to switching
currents of 5000 A

Ag / SnO2 88 / 12 SPW
Physical Properties longitudinal section
The physical properties depend mainly on the composition. The effect of the SnO2 content is
shown in the following for one type of material.

Ag / SnO2 DENSITY ELECTRICAL HARDNESS SOFT TENSILE ELONGATION

[g/cm3] CONDUCTIVITY [HV1] STRENGTH SOFT [%]
[m/(Ω·mm2)] [MPa]
92/8 SPW 10.1 48 57 200 – 260 > 28

90/10 SPW 10.0 47 62 210 – 270 > 26 Ag / SnO2 88 / 12 SPW

cross section
88/12 SPW 9.9 45 67 220 – 280 > 24

Ag/SnO2 | Silver Tin Oxide Powder Metallurgical

Impact of Metal Oxide on Content on switching properties Erosion Rates against Metal Oxide content

total erosion specific erosion

Contact resistance
weld break force

specific erosion
total erosion
dwell time

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
metal oxide content (wt %) metal oxide content (wt %)

Key features of standard compositions

Ag / SnO2 DESIGNATION CONTENT ADDITIVE SnO2 APPLICATION WIRES PROFILES REMARK

OF OXIDES PARTICLES CONTACT
[Wt-%] SIZE TIPS
SP Wire Quality 8, 10, none medium for low loads in the current X good workability, especially
12, 14 range < 25A for demanding riveting
SPW Standard Wire 2, 8, 10, 12 WO3 medium for high loads in the current X lower contact resistance,
Quality range < 25A improved welding resistance
SPW4 Standard 8,10, 12 WO3 medium automotive relays; contactor X best workability of all
Prodil Quality esp. for devices with large tips profil qualities
or more complex tip design,
AC and DC application
SPW6 Universal 12 MoO3 fine AC contactors for the current X material especially for
Contactor range for Contactor from 20A contactors
Quality up to 400 A
SPW7 Superior Profil 12 WO3 medium contactors with high make X best resistance against
Quality Bi2O3 capacities and long life time welding of all silvermetall-
with AC3 load, automotive oxide materials
relays for high lamp loads
PMT1 Special Wire 8, 10, 12 Bi2O3 coarse automotive relays (lamp, X high resistance against weld-
Quality resistance and motor loads) ing on make, low erosion rate
with inductive loads
PMT3 Superior Profil 14 Bi2O3 medium AC contactors for current X lowest erosion rate
Quality range > 50 A with inductive loads, high
resistance against welding

TECHNICAL MATERIALS – WE JOIN ENERGIES

GERMANY

Umicore AG & Co. KG

Technical Materials
Contact & Power Technology Materials
Rodenbacher Chaussee 4
63457 Hanau
Phone: +49 6181 59 4869
Fax: +49 6181 59 7 4869
[Link]@[Link]

CHINA

Umicore Technical Materials Suzhou Co. Ltd.

#508-2 Zhujiang Road, SND
215011 – Suzhou
Phone: +86 512 6667 0800
Fax: +86 512 6667 3230
[Link]@[Link]

BRAZIL

Umicore Brasil Ltda.

Materiais Técnicos
Rua Barão do Rio Branco, 368
Guarulhos-SP
07042-010
São Paulo
Phone: +55 11 2421 1371
Fax: +55 11 2421 1180
info@[Link]

USA

Attleboro
Umicore Technical Materials
North America Inc.
527 Pleasant Street, Building 11
Attleboro, MA 02703
Phone: +1 508 838 2064
Fax: +1 508 838 2062
[Link]@[Link]
The information and statements contained herein are provided free of charge and are for
Glens Falls general information purposes only. They are believed to be accurate at the time of
Umicore Technical Materials publication, but Umicore makes no representations or warranty of any kind with respect
North America Inc. thereto, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or
9 Pruyn’s Island Drive availability. Use or application of such information or statements is at the user’s discretion,
Glens Falls, NY 12801 without any liability on the part of Umicore. Nothing herein shall be constructed as a
Phone: +1 518 932 0559 license or recommendation to use. Umicore reserves the right to alter any product or service
Fax: +1 518 792 3162 at its own discretion. All sales are subject to Umicore’s General Terms and Conditions of Sale
[Link]@[Link] and Delivery ([Link]

[Link] © 2013 Umicore AG & Co. KG. Printed in the Federal Republic of Germany