The Study of Arc Rate, Friction, and Wear Performance of C/C Composites in Pantograph–Catenary System

Abstract

A series of tests on arc rate, friction coefficient, and wear rate of electrical current collectors sliding against overhead contact wires under different conditions was carried out on a high-speed friction and wear testing machine with a pin-on-disc configuration. The worn surface morphology and composition were examined using a scanning electron microscope and energy dispersion spectrum analyzer, respectively. The effects of current, velocity, and load on the arc rate, friction coefficient, and wear rate of C/C composites/QCr0.5 couples were investigated, and the influence mechanism of test parameters on C/C composites was explained. It is concluded that the wear rate increases with an increase in current and velocity and has a decreasing trend with the increase in load. The friction coefficient increases with an increase in velocity and load. The arc rate of C/C composites/QCr0.5 couples increases with an increase in current and velocity. Under the condition of the same current and velocity, when the load is 70 N, the arc rate is the lowest.

KEY WORDS:

• C/C Composites
• Arc Rate
• Wear Rate
• Friction Coefficient
• Tribology Properties
• Arc Discharge
• Microstructure

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors thank the Powder Metallurgy Laboratory of Central South University for providing the materials in this test.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful for financial support from the Natural Science Foundation of China (No.U1034002) and Science and Technology Department of Henan Province (No. 132300410222).