Copper Tungsten Contacts for Switchgear
CuW, copper chromium, silver tungsten, and tulip contacts — made to your drawing, supplied direct from China through ISO 9001:2015 facilities.
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Conductive Rods & Conductors
Conductive rods and conductors carry current through MV switchgear assemblies — from the cable termination through the breaker contacts to the outgoing bus. Material choice matters: pure copper has the highest conductivity but is mechanically softer; aluminum bronze is harder and more wear-resistant but loses some conductivity; CuW handles arc-exposed segments without melting. Most MV current paths use copper for the bulk of the run and bronze or CuW for the arc-exposed or sliding-contact segments. We supply conductive rod and conductor elements in copper (C10100 / C11000 OFC and ETP grades), aluminum bronze (C95400), and as machined components combining multiple materials. For CuW rod, see the Copper Tungsten Series.
Copper Tungsten (CuW) Series
Copper tungsten composites combine copper's conductivity with tungsten's resistance to arc erosion. In medium- and high-voltage vacuum interrupters and switchgear, this combination is what keeps contacts intact through tens of thousands of switching cycles. We supply CuW70, CuW75, and CuW80 in standard rod forms and as machined components — static arc contacts, moving arc contacts, shielding caps, conductive rods, and custom geometries to drawing. Production in our supply network uses powder metallurgy with copper infiltration. The 12 SKUs in this series cover the components most often replaced or specified for new MV switchgear designs. If you're sourcing for a vacuum circuit breaker line at 12 kV, 24 kV, or 40.5 kV, this is the right starting point.
Tulip Contact Series
Tulip contacts are the multi-finger spring-loaded plug-in contacts used in withdrawable circuit breakers, vacuum interrupters, switching mechanisms, and any application that needs a low-resistance, repeatable plug-and-unplug connection at MV current levels. The name comes from the shape — fingers arranged radially around a central axis, opening like petals when the mating contact slides in. We supply tulip contacts at 630A, 1250A, and higher current ratings, in standard and custom designs. Most of our tulip work is for VCB withdrawable assemblies and busbar plug-in connections; some volume goes into surge arrester components and other specialized MV equipment.
Bronze Series
Bronze and aluminum bronze components fill the spaces in MV switchgear where copper is too soft and CuW is overkill — bushings, contact fingers, commutator plates, and the small precision parts that make breaker and disconnector assemblies work. Bronze alloys offer better mechanical strength than pure copper while keeping useful conductivity, and they handle sliding contact wear that would gall copper-on-copper. We supply bronze components for MV switchgear builds and refurbishment programs: standard parts like bushings and contact fingers, plus custom machined components from drawing. Aluminum bronze (C95400 series) is our most common alloy; phosphor bronze (C51000 / C52400) and brass (C26000 / C28000) are used for specific applications.
Contact Arms for MV Switchgear
Contact arms are the structural conductor components that connect the operating mechanism in an MV switchgear assembly to the contact face. They carry full breaker current, support the mechanical motion of opening and closing, and in many designs serve as the visible movement element when the breaker actuates. Material choice ranges from pure copper for the highest conductivity, through aluminum for cost-sensitive builds, to copper-aluminum bimetal where weight and current both matter. We supply contact arms in single-piece configurations (one arm per assembly) and matched pairs (two arms working as a coordinated unit in the breaker mechanism). Custom geometries from drawing are routine.
Contacts & Contact Assemblies
This category covers contact components and contact sub-assemblies that don't fit specifically under the Copper Tungsten (arc duty), Tulip Contacts (plug-in), or Bronze Series (mechanical) categories — primarily static and moving contacts in copper or copper-alloy form, supplied as individual components or as complete contact assemblies for MV switchgear builds. For arc-duty contacts (CuW-tipped) see the Copper Tungsten Series. For plug-in contacts see Tulip Contacts. This category sits in the middle: contacts that carry continuous current and handle make-and-break duty but at lower arc severity than CuW-required applications.
Silver Tungsten (AgW) Series
Silver tungsten contacts combine silver's conductivity with tungsten's arc-erosion resistance — the standard material for low-voltage electrical apparatus where contact resistance matters as much as arc handling. Where CuW (copper tungsten) dominates in MV vacuum interrupters, AgW dominates in LV contactors, motor starters, relays, and air circuit breakers. The silver matrix gives lower contact resistance than copper at the same tungsten content; the tungsten phase handles arc duty during making and breaking. We supply AgW contacts across the full grade range covered by GB/T 8320-2025 (Chinese national standard for copper-tungsten and silver-tungsten electrical contacts) — from AgW30 for high-conductivity general-purpose duty through AgW80 for severe-duty motor starters. Most production is in tip / button form for LV contactors, with custom geometries available from drawing.
Copper Chromium (CuCr) Series
Copper chromium is the standard contact material for medium-voltage vacuum interrupters. Inside a vacuum circuit breaker or vacuum contactor, the pair of contacts that make and break the circuit under vacuum are almost always CuCr — the copper matrix carries continuous current, and the chromium phase handles the arc during interruption, suppresses contact welding, and keeps the chopping current low. Where CuW (copper tungsten) dominates in SF6, oil, and air-insulated MV switchgear arcing contacts, CuCr dominates inside the vacuum bottle. We supply CuCr contacts in the grades covered by GB/T 26867-2011 (Chinese national standard for copper-chromium electrical contacts) — CuCr25 for high-conductivity general-purpose vacuum interrupter duty, and CuCr50 for higher-rated, high-cycle, and severe interruption duty where anti-weld behavior and low chopping current matter most. Contacts are produced as discs and custom geometries to drawing, in axial-magnetic-field (AMF) and radial-magnetic-field (RMF) forms.
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Latest Blog Post
CuW vs CuCr vs AgW: Which Contact Material Does Your Switchgear Need?
Three composite materials cover almost every contact application in medium- and low-voltage switching apparatus: copper tungsten (CuW), copper chromium (CuCr), and silver tungsten (AgW). They are not interchangeable. Pick the wrong one and you either overpay for performance you don't need, or you put a material into a duty it can't survive.
Choosing the Right AgW Grade for AC Contactors
AgW (silver tungsten) is the standard contact material for AC contactors across the low-voltage electrical apparatus market. The choice isn't whether to use AgW — it's which grade. AgW30, AgW40, AgW50, AgW70, AgW80 — five common grades cover the practical range, and each fits a specific category of contactor application.
AgW vs CuW: When to Use Silver Tungsten vs Copper Tungsten
Silver tungsten (AgW) and copper tungsten (CuW) are sister materials in the tungsten-composite electrical contact family. Both combine a tungsten skeleton with a softer matrix metal infiltrated through powder metallurgy; both deliver arc-erosion resistance that pure copper or pure silver couldn't match. The difference between them — silver matrix vs copper matrix — sounds small but shows up in conductivity, cost, and which applications each one belongs in.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Technical and sourcing questions from switchgear and contactor engineers — answered.
Do you offer design-for-manufacturability (DFM) feedback on custom drawings?
Yes. Submit your drawing in DXF / PDF / STEP format and we'll review for features that affect cost, yield, or feasibility — thin walls, tight tolerances on non-critical features, complex geometries that could be simplified. There's no obligation to change the design; the feedback is a free first step before quoting. We can review CuW, AgW, bronze, and copper component drawings.
What is GB/T 8320-2025 and how does it relate to your products?
GB/T 8320-2025 is the current Chinese national standard for copper-tungsten and silver-tungsten electrical contacts, effective from 2026-05-01. It defines minimum requirements for chemical composition, density, hardness, electrical conductivity, bending strength, and several other properties for both CuW and AgW grades. Material we supply is produced to meet or exceed GB/T 8320-2025 minimums for the specified grade; certified material documentation per lot is available on request.
What is a "whole contact" and when is it specified?
A whole contact is a CuW or AgW arc-resistant face bonded (typically brazed) to a copper or copper-alloy conductive end as a single assembly. It's specified when the apparatus design needs an arc-resistant contact face but the assembly only needs current-carrying conductor behavior elsewhere — most MV switchgear and many LV contactor contact assemblies are whole contacts. Per GB/T 8320-2025, whole contact bonding strength must meet minimum tensile values (≥185 MPa for Cu end, ≥226 MPa for CuCrZr end).
What contact resistance can I expect from CuW70 vs CuW80?
Contact resistance depends on more than just material — surface finish, contact force, and operating temperature all matter. For the bulk material, CuW70 has roughly 18% lower resistivity than CuW80 (corresponding to the conductivity ratio of 42% vs 34% IACS minimums per GB/T 8320-2025). In a specific contact assembly, the resistance difference is usually smaller because joint and interface resistance dominate over bulk resistance. For your specific application, send the assembly drawing and we can provide guidance.
What surface treatments are available for CuW and AgW contacts?
For CuW contacts, common surface treatments are: as machined (default), silver plating on non-arcing surfaces, or nickel plating for corrosion resistance. The contact (arc) face is typically left bare CuW. For AgW contacts, the default is as machined — the silver matrix already provides a low-resistance contact surface. Plating on AgW is uncommon but available for specialty applications. Specify plating zones and thickness in your drawing.
Can you produce contacts from a sample if I don't have the original drawing?
Yes. Send the sample part and we can scan, measure, and produce to a drawing we generate. This is common for refurbishment of installed switchgear or contactors where the original OEM documentation isn't available. We treat customer-supplied parts as confidential; IP terms are discussed during quoting.
How does tungsten content affect CuW properties?
Higher tungsten content increases density, hardness, bending strength, and arc-erosion resistance, but decreases electrical conductivity. CuW70 has ≥42% IACS conductivity and ≥175 HB hardness per GB/T 8320-2025; CuW80 has ≥34% IACS and ≥220 HB. The trade-off drives grade selection — CuW70 for standard MV duty where conductivity matters, CuW80 for severe arc duty where erosion resistance matters more.
Do you supply CuW or AgW in non-standard alloy compositions?
Standard grades (CuW70 / 75 / 80 / 85 / 90 and AgW30 to AgW80) cover most applications. Non-standard compositions — different tungsten content, Ni-containing CuW, or specialty material additions — are available on request for specific applications. Per GB/T 8320-2025 Appendix A, Ni-containing CuW has documented conductivity-vs-Ni relationships if your application needs that specifically. Send your specification with the inquiry.
Which AgW grade for an AC-3 motor starter?
AgW70 is the typical specification for AC-3 motor duty (squirrel-cage motor starting per IEC 60947-4-1). The 70 wt% tungsten content balances arc-erosion resistance for motor inrush currents with adequate conductivity for continuous load. For AC-4 / reversing duty or higher cycle counts, AgW70 or AgW80 — discuss your duty cycle. For lighter-duty general contactors, AgW40 or AgW50 is more typical. See our AgW grade selection guide for the full mapping.
What is arc erosion in a vacuum interrupter?
When a vacuum interrupter opens or closes under load, an arc forms briefly between the contacts. The arc heats the contact surface locally, vaporizing material. Over thousands of operations, this material loss is called arc erosion. CuW contacts handle vacuum arc erosion much better than pure copper — the tungsten skeleton retains structural integrity even when local copper vaporizes. The arc-erosion rate scales inversely with tungsten content; this is why CuW80 lasts longer than CuW70 in severe arc duty, at the cost of lower conductivity.
How is CuW machined? Can my machine shop work with it?
CuW is CNC-friendly with carbide tooling. It cuts more like a brass-tungsten composite than pure copper — slower feed rates, conservative depth of cut, and more tool wear than equivalent volume in copper. CuW80 is harder to machine than CuW70 due to higher tungsten content. For machine shops new to CuW, we can share tooling and feed-rate recommendations based on the specific grade and part geometry.
What's the difference between CuW and AgW for electrical contacts?
Both are tungsten-composite contact materials, but with different matrix metals. CuW (copper tungsten) is the standard for medium-voltage applications like vacuum interrupters and MV switchgear — cost-effective with adequate arc-erosion resistance. AgW (silver tungsten) is the standard for low-voltage applications like AC contactors and relays — higher conductivity at the cost of significantly higher material price. The choice usually follows the application: LV → AgW, MV → CuW. See our AgW vs CuW guide for detailed comparison.