The laboratory equipment for the prompt functional properties measurement of electrocontact materials

The automated laboratory equipment for efficient interrupting electrocontact materials testing with respect to their general functional properties during their development and/or improvement is presented. The equipment for estimating erosion resistance, transient resistance of loaded pair contacts and also welding resistance during on-off cycles by break force measurement (380/220 V, current is 15-30 А, power factor φ=0.8, frequency of on-off cycles is 0.01-10 Hz, controlled duty cycle). The equipment control, monitoring, recording and primary processing of parameters taken from the detecting device are performed using specialized software. The equipment was tested on two type contact materials, Ag and Ag/(15%CdO). The results and appropriate correlation are presented in this article.