Conclusions
The predominant effect on electric erosion in the first switching cycles of light currents in air is exerted by the state of the surface of the working layer of contacts (increased content of copper, its deformation, the presence of oxides, etc.) and by the predominant evaporation of copper caused by it.
The erosion of contacts in current switching in air is also affected by intense evaporation of tungsten oxides.
Enrichment of the working layer of W-Cu contacts with tungsten plays the decisive role in the course of the aggregate chemical reactions and processes causing destruction of these contacts by multiple switchings of heavy currents in air and in oil.
The effect of carbide formation and oxidation of tungsten determines the role of brittle destruction in the electric erosion of contacts.
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Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 1(313), pp. 51–57, January, 1989.
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Minakova, R.V., Fenochka, B.V. & Kresanova, A.P. Special features of the wear of tungsten-copper electric contacts in air and in oil. Powder Metall Met Ceram 28, 43–48 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01171807
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01171807