Effect of Arc Discharge on Friction and Wear Behaviors of Stainless Steel/copper-impregnated Metalized Carbon Couple under Electric Current

Friction and wear tests of stainless steel rubbing against copper-impregnated metalized carbon with electric current were carried on the pin-on-disc tester. The result indicates that arc discharge occurs in the process of experiments, and the intensity of arc discharge of interface increases with increasing of electric current and sliding velocity. As increasing of the arc discharge intensity, friction coefficient shows a tendency of slightly increase. While the rate of copper-impregnated metalized carbon material increase significantly with the increase of arc discharge intensity. Through observing the worn surface morphology of pin samples, it is found that the abrasive wear is dominant at small arc discharge due to worn particles and arc ablation craters, but arc erosion and oxidation wear are the main wear mechanisms in condition of large arc discharge due to arc discharge and its producing high temperature. The materials transfer of contact couple occurs in the process of friction and wear.