An Experimental Study on Contact Resistance Characteristics of Relay Contacts Operated in the Vicinity of New Telechelic Polyacrylate Polymers

When relays were operated to break load currents in vapors evaporated from a new telechelic polyacrylate polymer that is an acryl-based non-silicone-type polymer and can be used as replacement of conventional silicone-type products, resultant contact resistance characteristics show no deterioration. In this paper, for the purpose of investigating influences of differences in curing processes, the several telechelic polyacrylate polymers of UV-radiation-cured type were used, and influences of their vapors on contact resistance characteristics of mechanical relays at an ambient temperature of 120°C were studied. More specifically, a commercially-available mechanical relay (AgSnIn contacts) was sealed into a metal can with one of the cured telechelic polyacrylate polymers, and placed in a heating chamber to operate 40,000 break operations of an inductive DC 14V-1A or 14V-0.4A load current at an operating frequency of 1 Hz or 0.5 Hz. As a result, the relays showed no deterioration in contact resistances. Thus, it was confirmed that vapors from these UV-radiation-cured type telechelic polyacrylate polymers cause no adverse effects on contact resistance characteristics.