Sustainable High performance functionally graded composites via. Advanced manufacturing of Particle-reinforced Cu/SiC for Electrical applications - SHAPE

Project summary

With the extensive usage of electrical contact materials (ECM) in cutting-edge technologies like e-vehicles, renewable energy systems, etc., it is imperative to develop new materials with enhanced properties to mitigate key issues such as high contact resistance, low wear and corrosion resistance, local melting, cold welding, material transfer losses and their contribution to global warming through fossil fuel emissions. Thus, the primary objectives of SHAPE are to address these challenges by creating and validating novel, recyclable Cu/SiC-based MMC and FGC ECMs that meet essential performance criteria, including high electrical and thermal conductivity, improved wear and arc erosion resistance, cost-efficiency, and ease of production. The potential impacts of SHAPE extend to the development of sustainable ECMs via additive manufacturing, reducing energy losses in renewable systems, environmental sustainability through waste upcycling, and resource conservation via EOL-ECM recycling.