METHOD OF PREPARING A COMPOSITE MATERIAL COMPRISING AN INORGANIC MATRIX IN WHICH VITREOUS CARBON INCLUSIONS ARE DISPERSED, MATERIAL OBTAINED BY THIS PROCESS AND ITS UTILISATION AS AN ELECTRIC CONTACT

摘要

Process for the preparation of a composite material incorporating an inorganic matrix in which are distributed inclusions of carbon-containing material, where it comprises the following stages: (a) mixing an inorganic powder with a liquid or viscous resin, which can be transformed into vitreous carbon by heat treatment, (b) subjecting the mixture of resin and inorganic powder to a first heat treatment performed under conditions such that the resin is hardened by crosslinking or polycondensation, and (c) subjecting the thus obtained hardened product to a second heat treatment for transforming the resin into vitreous carbon and thus forming said vitreous carbon inclusions. The composite material obtained comprises a copper matrix in which are uniformly and homogeneously dispersed vitreous carbon inclusions, the vitreous carbon content being at the most 8% by weight. The material is used in the production of electric contacts.