• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.52-59
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• 1996

The results of the electrical contact conductivity of multi-contact spots accounting the surface roughness and the non-conductive films of different origins such as air, water, cutting oil, and machining oil are presented. The array of metal spheres compressed between two flat plates has been used for simulation of the contact behavior of multiple contact of solids, under normal loading. Measurement of electrical contact resistance has been made using the equipment providing the adequate accuracy in the range of micro Ohms. The data on electrical contact resistance have been compared with theoretical predictions using the multiple contact model of constriction resistance. The effect of single spot number and array on conductivity of contact has been evaluated. The results of the experiments show that the contact resistance are closely related to the number of loading cycles, form of surface roughness, and presence of non-conductive films that reduce the size of the real electrical contact spots.