Control of Electrical and Thermal Properties on Sn–50Zn Alloy by 8 vol%Al₂O₃ Addition for Pb-Free AC-Low Voltage Fuse Elements

Abstract

The addition of 8 vol%Al₂O₃ particles in the Sn–50Zn was carried out for the control of electrical and thermal properties, for Pb-free fuse elements used in electric power line. The metal matrix composite of the Sn–Zn alloy and Al₂O₃ particle having the different densities and melting points could be produced by the handling at coexisting range of both liquid and solid phases and showed the homogeneous microstructure of randomly dispersed Al₂O₃ via ingots. The temperature dependence of specific resistivity, thermal conductivity, specific heat and density was measured to use their values in electrical and thermal calculations in order to obtain the temperature distribution on Pb-free fuse elements. Both the melt and un-melt down performance of main requirements for AC-low voltage fuse elements could be satisfied on the Sn–50Zn–8 vol% Al₂O₃ element.