Electrical-contact properties of a composite material with a copper matrix reinforced by superelastic hard carbon

• Published in: Russian metallurgy Metally Vol. 2015; no. 5; pp. 376 - 380
• Main Authors: Izmailov, V. V., Drozdova, E. I., Chernogorova, O. P., Potapova, I. N., Novoselova, M. V., Ekimov, E. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.05.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Carbon; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composite materials; COMPOSITES; Contact; Contact resistance; CONTACTS; CURRENT; ELASTICITY; Electric contacts; HARDNESS; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Microhardness; Modulus of elasticity; REINFORCEMENT; SUPERELASTICITY; Wear resistance; Fullerene; Electrical Contact; RUSSIAN Metallurgy; Contact Resistance; Carbon Particle
• ISSN: 0036-0295; 1555-6255; 1531-8648
• DOI: 10.1134/S0036029515050092

The electrical contact resistance and the electric-erosion wear resistance of the composite material consisting of a copper matrix reinforced by superelastic hard carbon are studied. The reinforcing of CM by carbon particles, which have a unique combination of mechanical properties (high microhardness of 30–35 GPa, elastic modulus of 180–200 GPa, and a high ratio of microhardness to elastic modulus ( HV 50 /E > 0.15)), ensures good contact characteristics of the material. The minimum electrical contact resistance of CM is comparable with the electrical contact resistance of a reference sample made of gold. The electric-erosion wear resistance of the CM is more than threefold that of chrome bronze, which is a widely used for high-current electrical contacts.