1st Edition
Electrical Contacts Fundamentals, Applications and Technology
Various factors affect the performance of electrical contacts, including tribological, mechanical, electrical, and materials aspects. Although these behaviors have been studied for many years, they are not widely used or understood in practice. Combining approaches used across the globe, Electrical Contacts: Fundamentals, Applications, and Technology integrates advances in research and development in the tribological, material, and analytical aspects of electrical contacts with new data on electrical current transfer at the micro- and nanoscales.
Taking an application-oriented approach, the authors illustrate how material characteristics, tribological behavior, and loading impact the degradation of contacts, formation of intermetallics, and overall reliability and performance. Coverage is divided broadly into three sections, with the first focused on mechanics, tribology, materials, current and heat transfer, and basic reliability issues of electrical contacts. The next section explores applications, such as power connections, electronic connections, and sliding contacts, while the final section presents the diagnostic and monitoring techniques used to investigate and measure phenomena occurring at electrical contact interfaces. Numerous references to current literature reflect the fact that this book is the most comprehensive survey in the field.
Explore an impressive collection of data, theory, and practical applications in Electrical Contacts: Fundamentals, Applications, and Technology, a critical tool for anyone investigating or designing electrical equipment with improved performance and reliability in mind.
Introduction to Electrical Contacts
. Introduction
. Summary of Basic Features
Contact Mechanics
. Surface of Solids
. Surface Topography
. Modern Techniques of Measuring Surface Parameters
. Contact of Smooth Surfaces
. Contact between Rough Surfaces
Tribology
. Friction
. Wear
. Lubrication
. Current Trends in Tribology
Contact Materials
. Metallic Contact Materials
. Coatings for Electrical Contacts
. Composite Contact Materials
. Nanostructured Materials
Current and Heat Transfer across the Contact Interface
. Contact Resistance
. Interfacial Heating
Reliability Issues in Electrical Contacts
. Significance of Electrical Contacts Reliability
. Electrical Contact Requirements
. Factors Affecting Reliability
. Connection Degradation Mechanisms
. Impact of Connection Degradation
APPLICATIONS OF ELECTRICAL CONTACTS
Power Connections
. Types of Power Connectors
. Design Features and Degradation Mechanisms
. Mitigating Measures
. Installation Procedures
Electronic Connections
. Types of Electronic Connections
. Materials for Electronic Connections
. Degradation Mechanisms in Electronic Connections
. Mitigating Measures
Sliding Contacts
. Tribology of Electrical Contacts
. Dry Metal Contacts
. Lubricated Metal Contacts
. Composite Contacts
DIAGNOSTIC AND MONITORING TECHNOLOGIES
Electrical Methods in Tribology
. Surface Characterization
. Diagnosis of Contact Area and Friction Regimes
. Evaluation of Tribological Performance of Materials and Lubricants
Monitoring Technologies
. Thermal Measurements
. Resistance Measurements
. Monitoring Contact Load (Pressure)
. Ultrasonic Measurements
. Wireless Monitoring
. Cost Benefits of Monitoring and Diagnostics Techniques
Appendix 1: Methods of Description of Rough Surface
Appendix 2: Shape-Memory Materials
Appendix 3: Electrical Contact Tables
References
Index
Biography
Braunovic, Milenko; Myshkin, Nikolai K.; Konchits, Valery V.
"There are nearly 1000 references cited in this book, making it an excellent resource and reference for the practicing engineer in power engineering, semiconductor connection electronics, or contact material science. Also, those wanting to quickly learn about the fundamentals of contact science will find this book to be well written and easy to read yet still contains very good technical depth to provide a sound understanding of the theory being presented."
– In IEEE Electrical Insulation Magazine, May/June 2008, Vol. 24, No. 3
"[This book] takes a practical applications approach to the subject and presents valuable design information for practicing mechanical and electrical engineers. … The authors of this book have many years of research and practical experience. One unusual and interesting aspect of the book's development is that it comes through the cooperation of the different approaches to the subject from the West and the East. They have succeeded in making the bulk of research and engineering data equally clear for all the segments of the international audience."
-From the Foreword by Paul G. Slade, editor of the bestselling book Electrical Contacts: Principles and Applications
