Numerous electrical appliances and machines require conduction of an electric current between a stationary and a rotating part of the machine, which is usually performed by the classic system of slip rings and brushes. The requirement of the increasing life expectancy of many such applications inevitably leads to the development of new forms of sliding electrical contacts with greater efficiency and less wear. However, successful implementation and optimization of new forms of sliding contacts that exhibit changed contact conditions is only possible by a detailed understanding of tribological phenomena and influences that affect such contacts. For this purpose, we have developed a specific tribological test rig, which allows the evaluation of the new form of sliding electrical contacts by monitoring the coefficient of friction, temperature, contact resistance and wear of contact elements in a wide range of mechanical and electrical loads. In this paper the findings on the effects of the selected contact and the electrical parameters on the tribological properties are presented. The presentation of these results to a wider professional audience and public presents a significant raise in the level of technology and thus an important socio-economic achievement.
F.04 Increase of the technological level