The object of the invention is a copper-based contact material containing the following components (mass percents): graphite 0,5-5,0 %, cadmium 0,1-0,5 %, 0,2-0,5 %, zirconium 0,2-0,5 %, indium 0,1-0,3 %, tantalum 0,05-0,2 %. Further aspects of the invention are a contact slug made of the above contact material prepared by powder metallurgical method, and a procedure for preparing contact slugs by powder metallurgical method, by which granules of 50 um size or smaller are prepared from the above defined composition, mixed and pressed into slugs with a typical specific pressure of 0,4 gPa, the slugs are then baked with the addition of graphite and cadmium-oxide at a temperature of 1223+/-10 K in a vacuum at alumina-spraying, the baked slugs are then re-pressed and sintered at a temperature of 723+/-10K.