In industry, the transmission of electricity usually requires high currents transported for very long distances, and in some cases, such as in aluminum plants, the use of high currents is essential for the reduction process. The connections between the electrical furnaces and the transmission cables are made with busbars, which can be comprised of either one or two different types of metal. In this transmission process, the main method to upgrade electrical circuit performance is by improving conductivity at the joint interface. Due to the need to reduce cost and simplify maintenance procedures, the interfaces at the joints are simply brushed, and conductive pastes are pressed between the contacting metals. The material most commonly used is a high-cost graphite paste, which is not produced by any Brazilian company. This paper presents a novel conductive paste, easily elaborated from industrial residues, involving low-cost production, yet presenting better results than those obtained with the graphite paste.
conductive paste; metals recycling; busbars
