On behalf of environmental concerns the European Union is going to restrict the use of silver/cadmium oxide contact materials in electrical and electronic consumer applications. It is expected that these restrictions will become life in 2006. The paper gives an overview on the EU discussion and a review on contact materials capable to replace silver/cadmium oxide materials in different applications as AC and DC contactors, automotive and AC relay and appliances. These contact materials are manufactured by powder metallurgy from the silver/tin oxide and silver/zinc oxide material groups, having oxide contents between 2 and 14 weight % and additives to improve switching properties. Special emphasis is on an improved silver/zinc oxide contact material having Ag_2WO_4 - dopants to meet life requirements in small contactors and AC relay.
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