Friction and Wear Behavior of Pantograph Strips Sliding Against Copper Contact Wire with Electric Current

An investigation on friction and wear behaviors of carbon strip and contact wire used in the pantograph-cantenary system is presented. The tests are conducted under laboratory conditions and on a pin-on-disc tester under electric current. The results indicate that electric current have a distinct effect on friction properties of carbon strip rubbing against copper. The wear rate of carbon strip increases with increasing of electric intensity due to the heat and arc discharge generated in the current. Worn surfaces of carbon strip are analyzed by scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. It is found that the thermal wear, arc erosion and abrasive wear are the dominant wear mechanism occurring in the electrical sliding frictional process, accompanying with material transferring.