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Electrical and tribological properties of a Ni–18%Ru alloy for contact applications

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Abstract

A study of the microstructure, development of contact resistance during oxidation, and abrasive wear behavior for a Ni–18 at.%Ru alloy is presented in this article. It is shown that the alloy can be solutionized and aged, resulting in a fine lamellar mixture of FCC α-Ni and HCP β-Ru phases. Upon oxidation in air for 400 h, the measured contact resistance of the alloy is two orders of magnitude lower than that of pure Ni after 400-h oxidation. This behavior results from the formation of a low-resistivity rutile RuO2 scale on the β phase lamellae, which gives conducting pathways through the insulating NiO scale that forms on the α phase. After an initial run-in period, the steady-state abrasive wear rate measured for the Ni–Ru alloy is an order of magnitude less than that of pure Ni. Since the micro-cutting and flaking wear mechanisms are the same, the differences in the wear rates are ascribed to the presence of the well-dispersed hard Ru-rich β phase. The combination of a low-resistivity self-healing native oxide scale and good wear properties makes the alloy an excellent candidate for electrical contact applications.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support extended by the U. S. Army Research Office through Grant No. W-911-NF0710388.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Materials and Biomolecular Engineering and Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    Y. Liu, B. S. Senturk, M. Aindow & S. P. Alpay

  2. United Technologies Research Center, East Hartford, CT, 06108, USA

    J. V. Mantese

Authors
  1. Y. Liu
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  2. B. S. Senturk
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  3. J. V. Mantese
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  4. M. Aindow
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  5. S. P. Alpay
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Correspondence to S. P. Alpay.

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Liu, Y., Senturk, B.S., Mantese, J.V. et al. Electrical and tribological properties of a Ni–18%Ru alloy for contact applications. J Mater Sci 46, 6563–6570 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-011-5603-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-011-5603-8

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