METALS TRANSFER AND OXIDATION OF COPPER-STEEL SURFACES IN ELECTRICAL SLIDING CONTACT

Metal transfer and oxidation in a copper-steel couple sliding electric contact are studied. In previous papers we have demonstrated the infl uence of an electric held and a high thermal gradient. These two pheno mena influence the adhesive transfer and the oxide growth at the inter face that leads to the decrease of contact adhesion and to abrasive we ar. The diffusion processes of oxygen in the transferred oxide layer w ill be summarized and a model proposed.