Damage of surfaces in sliding electrical contact copperrsteel

Copperrsteel couple is used for transmission of high electrical power under high electrical tension and high electrical current density for good mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of copper and for low junction electrical tension between copperrsteel metalswA. Bouchoucha, Thesis INPL, Nancy, France, 1988x. However, high current density in dynamical contact enhances oxidation process of sliding surface and then can induce electric arc and copper damage. Sliding wire copper is damaged by abrasion, by tribooxidation and by electrical arc. We have studied the copperrsteel oxidation in sliding electrical contact vs. the mechanical and electrical parameters. The influence of electrical current on surface damage is made in evidence and analysed. We will present the tribological results of sliding contact and we discuss the thermoelectromechanical surface damage process vs. mechanical electrical and thermal parameters. q1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved