%0 Journal Article
	%A Mohamed Akbi
	%D 2015
	%J International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering
	%B World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
	%I Open Science Index 98, 2015
	%T Effects of Arcing in Air on the Microstructure, Morphology and Photoelectric Work Function of Ag- Ni (60/40) Contact Materials
	%U https://publications.waset.org/pdf/10000525
	%V 98
	%X The present work aims to throw light on the effects of
arcing in air on the surface state of contact pastilles made of silvernickel
Ag-Ni (60/40). Also, the photoelectric emission from these
electrical contacts has been investigated in the spectral range of 196-
256 nm. In order to study the effects of arcing on the EWF, the
metallic samples were subjected to electrical arcs in air, at
atmospheric pressure and room temperature, after that, they have
been introduced into the vacuum chamber of an experimental UHV
set-up for EWF measurements. Both Fowler method of isothermal
curves and linearized Fowler plots were used for the measurement of
the EWF by the photoelectric effect.
It has been found that the EWF varies with the number of applied
arcs. Thus, after 500 arcs in air, the observed EWF increasing is
probably due to progressive inclusion of oxide on alloy surface.
Microscopic examination is necessary to get better understandings on
EWF of silver alloys, for both virgin and arced electrical contacts.

	%P 296 - 303