Simulation of the Electrical Resistivity of an Ag-ZnO Electrocontact Composite Material

Samples of an electrocontact composite material (CM) based on silver and reinforced with a zinc oxide nanopowder in an amount of 2-10 wt % are prepared by powder metallurgy. The microstructure of the CM samples is studied by electron microscopy and their electrical resistivity is determined. The mathematical simulation of the electrical resistivity was performed using the lattice model of an Ag-ZnO powder CM. To bring the structure of the finite element model to the structure of real electrocontact CM samples, which have with more complex geometry, as close as possible, we developed a program to automate the processes of constructing a finite element model of CM, applying boundary conditions, and solving and displaying results. To verify the generated CM model, we estimated the electrical resistivity of the lattice model CM for various nonconducting-component volumes in comparison with an analytical calculation and experimental results.