Cold Welding Research. Phase 1 Report
Abstract
The purpose of the research was to (1) study the behavior of contact resistance in air and in vacuum, and (2) determine if the stress levels on a small experimental contactor were sufficient to induce cold welding in vacuum. In each case the following metals were considered: aluminum, copper, stainless steel, and tungsten carbide. The experimental results show that an ion-pumped vacuum system can be successfully employed to remove physically absorbed contaminants which would otherwise lower the probability of successful electrical contact. By analyzing high-speed motion pictures, and employing the theory of elastic deformation, it was shown that the impact forces of the contacts were high enough to deform the substrate which supports the surface oxide layer. The copper on copper contact was observed to cold weld in vacuum. Adhesion of the stainless steel and copper contact was also observed in vacuum.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0847134
Entities
People
- Duncan B. Sheldon
- Wayne T. Picciano