Since the development of vacuum units with movable electrodes and suitable contact materials, the vacuum switching principle has been used extremely successfully in the construction of circuit breakers, load interrupter switches and contactors in the voltage range from 1 kV to 72,5 kV.

PLANSEE CuCr switching components for medium voltage.

CuCr arcing contacts are used in load switches, circuit breakers and contacts within the voltage range from 1 kV up to 72,5 kV.
This is the most demanding technology for power distribution with great demands on the current breaking capacity, dielectric strength on the open contact gap and a long service life at rated current.

PLANSEE CuCr contact materials are produced by powder metallurgical process involving mixing of the Cu and Cr powders, followed by pressing and sintering below the melting point of Cr. 

With its in-depth material and application know-how PLANSEE creates the unique advantages of its CuCr arcing contacts:

Highest homogenity and low cost:
Enabled by powder metallurgy.

Highest electrical strength:
Through controlled micro-alloying.

No re-striking:
Highest purity and lowest gas content.

  CuCr for vacuum interrupters

PLANSEE WCAg contacts for low voltage.

WCAg is the best material of choice wherever small chopping current and long lifetime are required. We have developed this material in close cooperation with our customers according to the specific requirements of vacuum contactors expecting a service life of 1.000.000 or more operations at rated current.
Technical requirements for electrical switches and contact materials lead to contradictory material properties which can be met successfully only by means of powder metallurgical production. The Ag content varies between 40 and 60wt.

Advantages of WCAg:

• Low chopping current - Low tendency to weld
• Long lifetimes > 1.000.000 cycles - Electrical wear resistance

  WCAg contact materials