Alloys for maintaining continuity

Alloys for maintaining continuity

Keywords Alloys, Cathodic protection,Mining and Chemical Products

Alloys specialist, Mining and Chemical Products, has formulated low melting point alloys to solve problems in maintaining electrical continuity in both cold and hot circuits.

Melting at temperatures between 70°C and 220°C, the three alloys in the range can be used to ensure firm metallic bonds, or to provide molten electrical connections between components that expand at different rates and separate as temperatures rise.

The company says that fusible alloys offer a quick and easy way of achieving continuity in cathodic-protection networks. In one quayside application, steel ropes are attached to steel terminals by an alloy melted and poured into an annular gap between each rope-end and its terminal block.

Expanding on solidification, the alloy ensure a positive electrical link and solid mechanical bond.

In electrical installations that work at temperature such as electrolytric cells, alloys can close the gaps caused by different expansion coefficients or wear between electrodes and holders. Acting as an anchor when cold, the alloy melts well before the cell reaches working temperature and flows freely into any gaps to preserve continuity and eliminate spark erosion.

Based on non-toxic bismuth, the alloys have electrical resistivities ranging from 48 to 100 micro-ohm/cm.

They can be melted safely and inexpensively by ordinary bench equipment. Their molten temperatures are so low they offer little threat of heat damage to other materials in the system.

Further details from Mining and Chemical Products Ltd. Tel: +44 (0)1256 897200.