What is the conductive paste used for?

A conductive paste is used to reduce the resistance at the junctions of electrical contacts.

What is paste used for?

Even in the second half of the 20th century, scientists calculated that the loss of electricity in all spheres of production is up to 10% of the total amount of electricity consumption. This value increases with equipment aging and wiring wear.

The simplest way to reduce losses to a minimum without serious financial costs was the use of special electrically conductive means. At the same time, there is no need to repair the equipment and carry out the replacement of the wiring.

Electrical contacts have their lifetime. And it shrinks when the contact resistance changes. When the electricity is applied, the connection point of the wires begins to warm up. This can even lead to fires. Statistics state that in 10% of cases, industrial accidents occur precisely because of the breakdown of the contacts of the electrical network. And the destruction of this kind occurs precisely because of the excess of the electrical resistance limit.

For the treatment of contacts standards provide substances such as lithol, ciatin, technical petroleum jelly. All of them have a fatty basis. Due to this, such funds are melted and burned, leaving the contact unprotected. As a replacement for them, in recent times, contact-current paste is increasingly being used.

General concept

Conductive paste allows to extend the service life of electrical wiring contacts to seven years. It reduces by half the value of the transient resistance in the places of electrical contacts. This tool operates in a temperature regime up to 350-4000 degrees. In such conditions it allows to preserve all the functional features of the contact connections.

Separately, there is a kind of means, such as an anticorrosive current-conducting paste. In addition to the main tasks of reducing the transient resistance, it protects the contacts from the effects of moisture and an aggressive environment.

Electrically conductive lubricants also have an energy-saving function. Specialists have calculated that using only 1 kg of the facility can save up to 100 thousand kW of electricity per year.

Application area

Paste conductive for contacts is used in various fields of production and industry. The main ones are:

• Metallurgical.

• Petrochemical.

• Mining and dressing.

• Power stations of various types (thermal, nuclear, hydro).

• Military equipment.

• Municipal economy.

• Transport.

• Repair of electrical circuits.

Classification

Electroconductive paste has two types. They differ in the way they influence contacts:

• Passive (it is also called neutral) is a kind of preventive tool that will prevent oxidation of contacts under the influence of oxygen in the air. This group includes the paste KCT contact current-conducting.

• Active does not affect the metal wires, but affect the oxidized areas located not on the surface.

Use of the tool

Conductive paste is easy to use. First of all, the surface on which the product will be applied should be degreased and dried.

Further, the paste itself is prepared. As a rule, it consists of two components: a powder with the addition of metal, a liquid for diluting the powder. Therefore, the components must be connected. This is done in dry containers. You can even on cardboard, if the amount is small. Pasta in consistency should resemble toothpaste.

The paste is applied to a pre-prepared surface with a layer 2-3 mm thick. When connecting the contacts, their ends simply drop into the tool.

Work with the finished paste quickly. She grasps after two minutes. The time for complete drying is two hours.

Making a paste with your own hands

Conductive paste is commercially available in a wide range from various manufacturers. But you can also make it yourself.

The main component of the glue is synthetic resin. It does not conduct electricity in its pure form. Therefore, to it and add particles of metals - gold, copper, silver, nickel. To ensure good electrical conductivity, the powder volume must be at least 70%.

Silver is used most often. This choice is based only on the economic side of the issue. The simplest and cheapest way of obtaining it is by chemical reaction of formalin reduction. For this, one part of silver nitrate and one part of formalin (1%) are taken. Their mixture is heated to a temperature of 80 degrees. After that, ammonia is added thereto (5%). As a result of the reaction, a precipitate of silver of a dark color will fall to the bottom. This precipitate is filtered, washed and dried.

When all the ingredients are ready, you can prepare the paste. To do this, combine 100 grams of epoxy, 250 grams of silver powder, 10 grams of dibutyl flutate (to give the resin a more liquid consistency). Before use, add 10 grams of polyethylene polyamine as a hardener. Without it, the mixture can be stored indefinitely.

It is possible to increase the electrical conductivity of the paste if it is dried after application at an elevated temperature (up to 100 degrees).

Electroconductive means are chemicals that must be handled with basic safety rules. The paste should not get on the skin and mucous membranes. If this happens, it is necessary to rinse thoroughly with warm water and soap.