10w3 Copper Tungsten Contact
Overview
The 10W3 grade achieves an optimal balance between electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, which is why it is the most widely used grade in the field of resistance welding. 10W3 Copper Tungsten Contact is a tungsten-copper composite material contact made primarily from 75% tungsten and 25% copper. It is commonly used in the arcing contacts of medium- and high-voltage switches, circuit breakers, vacuum switches, as well as in other electrical contacts that require withstanding high current breaks and arcing conditions.
Our company can also offer other grades such as W80Cu20 and W70Cu30. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us by email. We assure you that we will provide high-quality products at competitive prices.
Copper Tungsten Properties
- High hardness, high wear resistance, harder than Class 10 (HRB 72), strong anti-extrusion and wear, suitable for high-pressure and high-load working conditions.
- Excellent arc ablation resistance, high temperature resistance of tungsten skeleton, thermal conductivity of copper phase, not easy to melt and deform under arc, and strong arc extinguishing ability.
- High temperature dimension stability, small thermal expansion, not easy to soften and collapse at high temperature, suitable for long-term continuous welding and discharge.
- Although it is not as good as the high copper grade, it has stable thermal conductivity and strong current-carrying capacity, which can take away a lot of heat.
-
It has good machinability and can be processed by turning, milling, grinding, and EDM, and is not easy to break knives and drop blocks.
Dimension
| Grade |
10w3 |
| Diameter |
10mm-500mm |
| Density |
14.5–14.8 g/cm³ |
| Hardness |
88–99 HRB |
| Conductivity |
38–42% IACS |
| Surface |
Grinding |
| MOQ |
5KG |
| Standard |
ASTMB 702 |
| Delivery Time |
15-25days |
| Certification |
ISO 9001 |
WCu Grade
| Grade | RWMA Class | W (wt%) | Cu (wt%) | Density (g/cm³) | Hardness | Conductivity (%IACS) | Main uses and features |
| 1W3 | Class 10 | ~55% | ~45% | 12.3–12.8 |
~65–76 HRB |
47–54 | High electrical and thermal conductivity, suitable for light load resistance welding, electrode |
| 5W3 | ~70% | ~30% | 13.8–14.0 | ~82–88 HRB | 42–44 | Medium pressure welding, balancing conductivity and wear resistance | |
| 10W3 | Class 11 | 75% | 25% | 14.5–14.8 | 88–99 HRB | 38–42 | Flash welding, butt welding, and convex welding electrode inserts, medium pressure, and the best overall performance |
| 20W3 / 30W3 | Class 12 | 80–85% | 15–20% | 15.1–16.1 | 95–105 HRB / ~240 HB | 30–38 | High wear resistance, high strength, heavy load projection welding, and electric forging |
| 50W3 / W90Cu10 | ~90% | ~10% | 16.8–17.0 | ~260 HB | 28–30 | Extremely high arc corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, electric contacts, and aerospace |
Application
1. High-voltage load switch field
10w3 Copper Tungsten Contact is widely used in the core components of dynamic and static contacts of power main equipment such as high-voltage vacuum circuit breakers, high-voltage load switches, and high-voltage isolation switches.
2. Vacuum contactor industry
Tungsten Copper Contact is suitable for all kinds of medium and high voltage vacuum interrupters and industrial vacuum contactors, which can quickly separate the heat generated by on/off, inhibit arc diffusion, and have excellent anti-melting and oxidation resistance in vacuum environments.
3. Rail transit locomotive electrical equipment
WCu Electrical Contact is used in high-voltage contactors, traction switches, and on-board electrical control switch contacts of high-speed rail, subway, and intercity rail locomotives, which can adapt to complex working conditions on the vehicle, and the safety and reliability are far better than ordinary copper alloy contacts.
4. Resistance welding equipment industry
Tungsten Copper Contacts are used as conductive contacts, welding electrode head contacts, and non-sticking workpieces for convex welding, butt welding, seam welding, and precision spot welding equipment, which are wear-resistant and loss-resistant, can continuously and stably transmit current, reduce the frequency of electrode repair, and improve the flatness and welding consistency of welded workpieces, which is suitable for automotive sheet metal and hardware precision welding scenarios.
5. Aerospace
It is used in aerospace airborne electronic control switches, which can adapt to high-altitude, low-temperature, and tight working conditions, with sensitive contact on/off and precise contact, meeting the requirements of high reliability, long life, and maintenance-free use.
6. High-power relays, precision instrumentation fields
The high-current contacts used in industrial high-power relays, intelligent electronic control equipment, and precision power instruments can not only carry large currents, but also ensure the accuracy of precision instrument signals and circuit control, and are suitable for high-end electronic control and precision instrumentation.
10w3 Copper Tungsten Contact Pictures
FAQ
1. What does the "10w3" designation signify in Copper Tungsten contacts?
10w3s typically correspond to the RWMA Class 11 standard. It is composed of about 75% tungsten (Tungsten) and 25% copper (Copper). This proportional design is designed to provide extremely high hardness and fusion weld resistance while maintaining good conductivity, making it the grade of choice for heavy-duty industrial electrodes and high-voltage switches.
2. Why is "Infiltration" the preferred manufacturing method for 10w3?
In contrast to simple powder metallurgy, the infiltration process (infiltrating molten copper into a tungsten skeleton under a vacuum environment) ensures extremely high density and uniformity of the material. This process eliminates internal porosity, allowing the contact to quickly dissipate heat when subjected to extremely high instantaneous current densities, reducing contact losses caused by local overheating.
3. Can 10w3 Copper Tungsten be used for EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) electrodes?
Yes, it is an ideal material for manufacturing precision EDM electrodes. Due to its low coefficient of thermal expansion and excellent wear resistance, 10w3 can maintain micron-level shape accuracy at high current densities, making it particularly suitable for machining carbide or other difficult-to-machine mold materials, which can significantly reduce electrode loss rates.
4. How does 10w3 perform in SF6 or Vacuum circuit breakers?
In SF6 gas circuit breakers or vacuum switches, the contacts are exposed to extremely strong arc burns. The 10w3 contacts can effectively prevent surface splashing caused by arcing, reduce metal vapor contamination of the interrupter, and thus extend the overall maintenance cycle of the equipment.
5. Can you provide custom-shaped components and brazed assemblies?
In addition to offering standard round rods and squares, we also provide CNC precision machining services based on customer drawings. Furthermore, we offer backing/brazing services, which involve pre-welding copper-tungsten contacts onto copper supports, allowing customers to install the components directly.
