Influence of Contact Force and Speed on Tribological Performance of Metal-immersed Carbon Sliders in Low-humidity Environment

LI Renhui; GU Sujun; GUAN Jinfa; JI Dongdong; WU Jiqin; HUANG Jie; HAN Feng; ZHANG Jiwang

doi:10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.05.003

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Surface Technology ›› 2026, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (5) : 43-53. DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2026.05.003

Influence of Contact Force and Speed on Tribological Performance of Metal-immersed Carbon Sliders in Low-humidity Environment

LI Renhui^1a, GU Sujun², GUAN Jinfa^1b, JI Dongdong^1a, WU Jiqin^1a, HUANG Jie^1b, HAN Feng^1b, ZHANG Jiwang^1a,*

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Abstract

In response to the phenomenon of abnormal wear, arcing, and temperature rise of the subway pantograph- catenary system during the low-humidity seasons and the acceleration zones at the beginning of operation, a friction pair composed of the metal-immersed carbon slider and the copper-silver alloy contact wire is used. Utilizing a ring-block type pantograph-catenary system friction and wear test platform, it is of great significance to investigate the influence of contact force and speed on the tribological performance of the metal-immersed carbon slider surface under low-humidity conditions. Before testing, the temperature and humidity of the test platform environment are controlled. Each test lasts 6 000 seconds and is repeated twice for friction and wear testing. During the test, parameters such as the current-carrying capacity, contact force fluctuations, arc discharge, and surface temperature rise of the metal-immersed carbon sliders are recorded. Post-test analysis includes measuring the wear volume, examining macro/micro wear patterns, and analyzing chemical composition changes on the surface of the carbon sliders. The results reveal that under no current loading, the wear and temperature rise of the carbon slider increase with the increase of contact force, and the scratches and furrows on the carbon slider surface after the test become more apparent. When the current is applied, the faster the speed, the more intense the current and contact force fluctuations, and the increase in contact force is beneficial to the improvement of current-carrying efficiency, especially at low speeds, where increasing the contact force from 60 N to 120 N at 40 km/h improves the current-carrying efficiency by about 12%, while at 60 km/h, it is only increased by about 5%. However, the faster the speed, the more intense the fluctuations in the surface current and contact force of the carbon slider, and the more prominent the arc ignition phenomenon. To some extent, an increase in contact force can somewhat suppress the number of arcing occurrences and the average arcing time. The wear volume and temperature rise amplitude of the carbon slider increase with the rise in speed and initially decreased slightly and then increase significantly with the increase in contact force; the wear amount at 90 N contact force is 25% less than that at 120 N, and the temperature rise amplitude decreases by 20%; moreover, the surface morphology of the slider after testing under 120 N shows even more severe cutting and spalling. During the test, the surface temperature of the carbon slider first rises rapidly and then increases slowly, with obvious arcing and rapid temperature rise under low contact force during the running-in period, while after the stable period, the temperature rise under high contact force is steeper than that under low contact force. In general, the faster the speed, the poorer the current carrying capacity, the more prominent the arc combustion, and the wear amount and temperature rise also increase accordingly. When the contact force is too insufficient, the dispersion of the applied current is large, the arc combustion rate is higher, and the arc erosion phenomenon is more prominent. On the other hand, excessive contact force, under the combined action of arc erosion and mechanical cutting, results in more severe wear on the surface morphology of the carbon slider, with obvious ablation and spalling pits. An appropriate contact force can not only improve the current carrying efficiency and suppress arc combustion, but also simultaneously reduce the wear amount and temperature rise, indicating the existence of an optimal contact force.

Key words

low-humidity environment / metal-immersed carbon sliders / friction and wear / contact force / contact temperature / arc erosion / surface morphology

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LI Renhui, GU Sujun, GUAN Jinfa, JI Dongdong, WU Jiqin, HUANG Jie, HAN Feng, ZHANG Jiwang. Influence of Contact Force and Speed on Tribological Performance of Metal-immersed Carbon Sliders in Low-humidity Environment[J]. Surface Technology. 2026, 55(5): 43-53

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (52472421); the Key Research and Development Plans of Shanxi Province (2024GX- YBXM-238); Tianjin Scientific Research Project Funds (24ZYCGYS00800)