Correlations Between Electrical Contact Resistance and Stages of Wear in 700 Torr Helium for Precious Metal Electrical Contacts

摘要

In situ pin-on-plate studies of wear between a gold based alloy plate and a palladium based alloy pin in a 700 Torr helium ambient demonstrate that irreversible and erratic increases in contact resistance arise as a result of incorporation of pin material and a corresponding increase in contaminant composition within the wear track. (ERA citation 12:022866)