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Transfer of metal between light-duty electrical contacts

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Abstract

A study has been made of the metal transfer which occurs between gold-plated reed relay contacts when these are used to make and break a resistive circuit carrying 100 mA DC at 50 V. A scanning electron microscope was used for the investigation of surface topography and enabled the features of the pips and of the craters to be examined in great detail. For the electrical conditions considered, metal transfer was found to be due to a molten bridge mechanism rather than to electric arc processes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Allen Clark Research Centre, The Plessey Company Limited, Caswell, Towcester, Northants, UK

    T. A. Davies

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  1. T. A. Davies
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Davies, T.A. Transfer of metal between light-duty electrical contacts. J Mater Sci 3, 314–320 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00741968

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00741968

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