Study on Current-Carrying Tribological Characteristics of C-Cu Sliding Electric Contacts under Different Water Content

Previous studies have often observed that moisture can promote the lubricity and wear resistance of carbon-metal contact pairs in purely mechanical conditions. However, damage to pantograph carbon strips was found be aggravated rainfall conditions, leading a much lower service life than anticipated. This suggests novel influence mechanism water on carbon-copper (C-Cu) contacts during current-carrying friction. In this paper, friction characteristics contacts, including coefficient, loss, electrical resistance, arc discharge characteristics, studied under different current levels by controlling content sliders. The results show variation trend tribological parameters C-Cu with at 60–100 A is significantly from 20–40 A, which mainly result competition lubrication, cooling, obstruction transmission moisture. abnormal sliders environment occurs when greater 60 main reason for intensification erosion. addition, micro-crack propagation high an important factor deterioration strip properties.