(57) Inlaid base metal or alloy bodies suitable for use as or from which may be fabricated,
electrical contact elements in which the contact zones are constituted by the inlay
or inlays or portions thereof, the inlay or inlays being formed from one or more cerrosive
resistant alloys consisting of, apart from inpurities, gold, silver and one or more
platinum group metals with, optionally minor proportions of one or more of copper
nickel, and indium. In addition to the expected intrinsic anti-corrosive properties
whereby low contact resistance can be maintained, the alloys referred to surprisingly
also exhibit a tendency to inhibit 'edge creep' from the boundary between the base
metal or alloy and the inlay, an effect which has been the most prolific cause of
failure with conventional inlaid contacts.
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