Electrical contact resistance: properties of stationary interfaces

The paper reviews the dependence of electrical constriction resistance on the shape and dimensions of α-spots and on the magnitude of the mechanical contact load. The range of validity of the classical voltage-temperature relation for electrical contacts is also examined. The paper describes experimental evidence of breakdown of the classical electrical contact theory when α-spots become too small. One of the interesting and useful properties of relatively small α-spots is that they are subject to large surface stresses. These stresses induce α-spot growth