The Role of Electric Current on Friction and Wear Behaviors of the Carbon Strip/Copper Contact Wire

A serial of experiment studies on the friction and wear behaviors of the carbon strip/copper contact wire under the electric current were carried on the pin-on-disc tester. The results indicated that the tribology performances were remarkably affected by the electric current. The friction coefficient decreases with an increase of electric current. However, the were volume increases with increasing of electric current, and the worn surface of carbon strip become severer and severer with the increasing electric current. Therefore, the electric current play roles of lubrication and accelerating wear in the process of electrical sliding friction. By the analysis of EDX, it is seen that the oxide wear exists in electrical sliding friction process. Observing the worn surfaces of copper pan sample, it is found that the electric current increases the material transfer of carbon strip.