The influence of pressure on the electrical tribology of carbon nanotube–silver–graphite composite

The effect of pressure on the friction and wear properties of carbon nanotube–silver–graphite composite with 10 A/cm² and without electrical current has been investigated. The results show that the wear of composite increase with the increase of pressure under mechanical wear, but the wear of composite varies with the pressure in the shape of U under electrical wear. Pressure is a factor related to both the electrical heating, friction heating and abrasive wear. At a reasonable load without much increase in the frictional heating and mechanical wear, the electrical heating could be reduced which will result in lower total thermal effect, and the resultant wear rate could arrive at a minimum. The electrical wear is higher than mechanical wear by 6–20 times. The differences between the no-current and with-current wear is Joule heat released in the friction zone which leads to breakdown of the lubricating film, roughening of the brush surface, and intensification of the adhesive interaction at the contact spots. The wear of positive brush is higher than that of negative brush. The friction coefficient of composite with current is greater than that without current.