Electrical contacts -- the challenge for lubricants.

Electrical contacts can be found in all industries today. In these applications lubricants are essential because they protect the metal connectors from friction and fretting corrosion, which generate wear and may lead to an isolating oxide layer and finally the destruction of the electrical connection. Measurements on customary lubricants for electrical connectors were conducted with high regard to oxidation stability, wear and friction characteristics. The selected samples also differ in the thickener systems. Besides typically non-conductive lubricants for electrical contacts, there are lubricants with high electrical conductivity required mainly for EDM bearings (electrical discharge machining) to not promote a system failure. Currently, action is taken in the industry to define standards to measure the electrical conductivity of lubricants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]