Electrical contact resistance: Properties of stationary interfaces

The paper(1) reviews the dependence of electrical constriction resistance o n the shape and dimensions of a-spots and on the magnitude of the mechanica l contact load. The range of validity of the classical voltage-temperature relation for electrical contacts is also examined. The paper describes expe rimental evidence of breakdown of the classical electrical contact theory w hen alpha-spots become too small, One of the interesting and useful propert ies of relatively small alpha-spots is that they are subject to large surfa ce stresses. These stresses induce alpha-spot growth.