Fretting studies on electroplated brass contacts

This article describes frictional and electrical contact behaviors of electroplated brass under fretting conditions. Fretting tests using a crossed cylinder configuration are conducted. Cylindrical-type specimens are made of tinplated and gold-plated brass. The ratio of the maximum tangential force to normal force is calculated. The ratio is 0.85 for the self-mated tin-plated brass and 0.55-0.6 for the self-mated gold-plated brass. The results show that the evolution of the dimensionless electrical resistance can be described with a Kachanov-type damage form. Two parameters, the electrical resistance rate constant and electrical resistance exponent, are determined to describe the evolution of the electrical resistance. The results also reveal that the rate constant is affected by the test temperature. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.