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Tribological and arc-erosion behaviors of copper-refractory metal in-situ composites

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:7181707

Dry sliding tests were performed in a pin-on-disk wear tester with the composites rubbing against a rotating tool steel disk under ambient conditions with a pressure of 0.68 MPa, sliding speeds up to 2.5 m/s, and electrical current densities up to 2.89 MA/m[sup 2]. Electrical-arc erosion tests were performed in a make-and-break test set-up and a high-energy stationary arc gap test facility. Sliding friction and wear behaviors of Cu-Nb composites with and without electrical loads were studied in terms of the effects of composition, filament orientation, true deformation strain, sliding speed and annealing temperature. The Cu-20 vol.% Nb composite had the best wear resistance among the compositions studied in both cases. The contact behavior of Cu-Nb composites against tool steel was studied in terms of the contact resistance and temperature rise. The Cu-refractory metal in-situ composites had better arc erosion resistance in high-energy contacts than the commercially used Cu-W composite.

Research Organization:
Iowa State Univ. of Science and Technology, Ames, IA (United States)
OSTI ID:
7181707
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English