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The influence of interface temperature on the damage characteristics of C–Cu contacts' interface plays a critical role in the current-carrying friction process which occurs between the contact pairs. In this paper, a method is proposed to adjust the interface temperature via settling an external heat source. The damage morphology and material transfer of C–Cu contacts are focused on when the range of interface temperature varies from the room temperature (25 °C) to 300 °C. Based on the experimental results, it can be found that high interface temperature can inhibit the surficial erosion of carbon materials, which tends to be obvious, especially along with the increment of current. Moreover, both the delamination wear of carbon surface and the copper-to-carbon transfer behavior decrease with the thermal surge of interface. This beneficial effect of interface temperature results in the reduction in friction coefficient by 14.3%, whereas the negative impacts brought from the high interface temperature are the surface cracking and the rapid recovery of wear rate of carbon materials, under high-current condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon material, because of its high thermal conductivity, ablation resistance and friction resistance, has been widely used in the field of electrical engineering. When confronted strong thermal shock, the interface structure of carbon material would cause thermal shock damage by the rapid temperature difference. In order to systematically and quantificationally study the thermal shock damage of carbon materials, an experimental system that can provide rapid temperature difference was built. The experimental results showed that undergoing a temperature difference of 485 °C, more micro-cracks and holes arose in the pure carbon material, resulting in an increase of porosity by 26.39%, an increase friction coefficient by 48.65%, and a decrease of compressive strength by 23.96%. It was also found the ultrasonic velocity linearly decreased with the increase of porosity and the decrease of the compressive strength caused by thermal shock, which meant the non-destructive ultrasonic testing can be used to conveniently and accurately quantify the thermal shock damage. This conclusion also applies when testing copper-impregnated carbon material, making it a potential method to be used in the maintenance of pantograph which can effectively avoid in rail transit accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]