Selective Transfer Phenomenon in Copper-Steel Tribological Systems

The paper deals with possibility of selective transfer phenomenon generation in couples consisting of materials of railway traction trolley wire and of pantograph slider material. Some examinations are described concerning tribological characteristics evaluation of above couples. The most characteristic condition of selective transfer phenomenon (known also under the name of “Garkunov effect”) is generation of specific protective metallic layer on friction surfaces of both frictionally cooperating elements that minimize wear and friction resistance. Obtained results led to the conclusion that the selective transfer phenomenon was generated in the model friction pairs examined in the frames of presented work. The magnitude of this phenomenon depended on minimal differences in quantities of additives and impurities in copper.