Study of the Friction and Wear of Electrified Copper against Copper Alloy under Dry or Moist Conditions

Abstract

The frictional and wear characteristics of electrified copper sliding against a QCr0.5 copper alloy under moist and dry conditions were investigated utilizing a special pin-on-disc apparatus. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to observe the morphology of the copper pin contact surface and analyze its compositions, respectively. The results indicate that the wear rate and frictional coefficient of the copper are reduced as a result of the cooling and lubricating effect of water compared with dry sliding condition. However, both the frictional coefficient and wear rate of the copper material increases with an increase in electrical current under either moist or dry conditions and the frictional coefficient varies within narrow limits under wet conditions. In addition, there is a greater amount of oxygen associated with the surface under wet conditions than dry.

KEY WORDS:

• Friction and Wear
• Electrical Current
• Moist Condition
• Copper

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This research work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50975078) and the National 973 Project (2007CB607603, 2010CB635113).

Review led by Robert Errichello