Study on the Service Behavior of Graphene-Modified Copper-Tungsten Alloys with Multiple Compositions in an SF6 Atmosphere
摘要
The arc contact is the core component of the circuit breaker arc extinguishing chamber, and its performance is one of the key factors affecting the reliability of SF6 circuit breakers. Circuit breakers for AC filter banks must withstand mixed AC and DC voltages and interrupt capacitive loads 3 to 4 times a day during peak demand. The current arc contacts in service cannot meet the performance demands of frequent switching, including inrush currents and wear. To improve the overall performance of arc contacts, this paper utilizes a vacuum infiltration sintering process to prepare graphene-modified copper-tungsten contacts with high electrical conductivity, wear resistance, and arc erosion resistance (designated as CuW70-Gr, CuW75-Gr, CuW80-Gr, and CuW85-Gr for copper-tungsten 70, 75, 80, and 85, respectively). The study investigates the changes in arc erosion and wear resistance behaviors of different CuW-Gr alloy compositions in an SF6 atmosphere. The results show that the excellent electrical and mechanical properties of graphene enhance the electrical conductivity and hardness of each CuW-Gr alloy composition. The addition of graphene, due to its effect on improving the viscosity of molten Cu and dispersing arcs, reduces the mass loss of the contacts and improves arc erosion resistance. The axial dimension change of the CuW80-Gr stationary contact is the smallest, at 2.48mm. Furthermore, the addition of graphene significantly enhances the friction and wear resistance of CuW, and as the W content increases, the material's hardness and strength improve, and the wear amount decreases. This research provides solid technological support for promoting new material productivity, enhancing the intrinsic safety level of the power grid, and facilitating the construction of new types of power systems.