ABSTRACT
For some smaller low-current arcing contact applications and also non-arcing separable contact applications clad metals in the form of inlays and edgelays are used (see Fig. 14.7). Similar to the toplay described in the previous section, the carrier strip has one or more contact alloy strips clad onto the carrier material. These laminated structures can be made by roll cladding as described for tape above, seam welding, and special continuous brazing processes like toplay. For smaller contact assemblies, e.g. 2-3 mm width contact alloy, this process offers an easy way for stamping companies to make a contact assembly. A problem with the method is that since the alloy is continuous on the carrier strip, often a large percentage of the alloy is wasted as skeleton scrap during the stamping process.
This section discussed gold contact alloys which are used in clad structures for mainly nonarcing separable contact applications.
