Post-Arc Transient Field Observation and Arc Erosion Resistance Enhancement Mechanism of Graphene/Copper-Tungsten Contacts
Jia Yunhao1, Li Qingmin1,2, Zhang Yongshun1, Ren Hanwen1,2, Zhang Jinze1
1. State Key Laboratory of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources North China Electric Power University Beijing 102206 China; 2. Beijing Key Lab of HV and EMC North China Electric Power University Beijing 102206 China
Abstract：Graphene, as a new type of nano-reinforcement phase, has been widely used in improving the comprehensive properties of metals. Existing studies have explored the strengthening effect of graphene on copper-tungsten alloy contacts from the aspects of simulation and material preparation and detection. However, there is a lack of relevant work on evaluating the ablation resistance of graphene-doped and modified copper-tungsten contacts based on transient experimental phenomena and exploring its strengthening mechanism. The intense and complex physical process of contact arc ablation will cause severe disturbances in the flow field around the contacts. This paper used the schlieren technique to observe the transient field after the contact arc and analyze the relationship between its evolution characteristics and the ablation mechanism, aiming to explore the strengthening mechanism of graphene on copper-tungsten contacts. Conventional CuW80 alloy and CuW80Gr composite material containing 0.15% graphene by mass were prepared using high-temperature sintering and infiltration method. Schlieren observation experiments of arc ablation were carried out on the two contact materials respectively. Then, the absolute mean value of gray difference ΔG and the gas density recovery degree K were used to quantitatively describe the evolution characteristics of the gas density in the transient field after the arc, so as to reflect the severity of contact arc ablation. According to the transient temperature inversion method of the quantitative schlieren system, the temperature of the arc gap gas column was calculated, which could effectively reflect the temperature change of the surface layer of the contact arc gap. Subsequently, based on the above two evaluation and characterization quantities, the ablation resistance of the contacts was evaluated, and damage detection was carried out on the samples of the contact materials after ablation. Finally, a dynamic cooling rate model of graphene/copper-tungsten contacts was established, and the temperature data of the axis of the arc gap gas column, which could effectively reflect the temperature change of the surface layer of the contact arc gap, were fitted. The results show that: Compared with CuW80, CuW80Gr exhibits more excellent performance. The change in gas density in the transient field after the arc of CuW80 is more intense. The ΔG data of its schlieren image is significantly higher than that of CuW80Gr, with peak values of 34.10 and 23.17 respectively. Calculations show that the average value of ΔG of CuW80Gr is only 64% of that of CuW80, and the time for the gas density in the transient field of CuW80 to return to the normal state is about 100 ms later than that of CuW80Gr. The temperature of the axis of the arc gap gas column of CuW80Gr is always lower, and the overall average temperature is only 71% of that of CuW80. Damage detection in the ablation experiment confirms that CuW80Gr has less mass loss and a smoother surface morphology. The fitting effect of the dynamic cooling rate model is ideal (determination coefficients exceeding 0.95), and the maximum cooling rate of CuW80Gr is nearly 3 times that of CuW80. In conclusion, this experimental analysis establishes that: (1) The degree of change in gas density in the transient field and the temperature of the axis of the gas column are proposed as evaluation and characterization quantities, realizing the evaluation of the ablation resistance of the contacts. It is found that compared with CuW80, the arc ablation of CuW80Gr is less intense, the temperature of the surface layer of the contact arc gap is lower, and the graphene-doped and modified copper-tungsten contacts have more excellent ablation resistance and can resist arc erosion more effectively. (2) Compared with CuW80, the CuW80Gr contact material shows more excellent thermal conductivity and energy dispersion effects, and the physical reaction is more gentle during the arcing process. This is because due to its high thermal conductivity, graphene effectively undertakes the function of heat flow transfer in the composite material, improving the thermal conductivity efficiency of the composite material matrix. The introduction of graphene promotes the rapid diffusion of heat on the material surface to the interior, thus reducing the local high temperature peak, making the temperature distribution more uniform, and effectively reducing the thermal erosion and damage of the material surface.
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2026, Vol. 41 
