Fretting wear behavior of brass/copper-graphite composites as a contactor material under electrical contact

Abstract In this study, copper-graphite composites were prepared by powder sintering. The wear resistance and electrical contact endurance of composites with different copper-graphite ratios were investigated and are discussed. The results illuminate that the high electrical contact resistance evolution during fretting wear is related to the graphite content. With a decrease in the copper content, the interaction between graphite and copper increases, and the conductivity decreases. The graphite particles of the flat sample delaminate and form a graphite friction film between the contact surfaces; this friction film has excellent lubricating properties. Thus, the copper-graphite composites with the highest graphite content herein demonstrate good behavior against fretting wear and exhibit poor electrical contact performance. In other words, a relatively high copper content could maintain a decreased and stable contact resistance. The comprehensive performance of composite materials can be effectively developed by designing the copper-graphite ratio.