SLiding Contact Investigation for Carbon Pantograph wear Evaluation (SLICE)

Sliding electrical contacts play a vital role in railway systems by enabling current transfer between stationary and moving components, such as pantographs and overhead catenary lines. The contact strip of the pantograph is in direct contact with the copper catenary line.

The French National Railway Company (SNCF) uses various contact strip materials throughout its fleet, including graphite and metal-graphite composites. However, the wear mechanisms of these materials remain insufficiently characterized. This work aims to investigate the tribological behavior of such materials and to develop predictive wear laws suitable for railway applications.

Experiments are conducted on a dedicated test bench developed to reproduce pantograph-catenary contact by the Femto-st Energy department. The setup consists of a carbon pin pressed against a rotating copper disk under controlled load and speed. Friction, temperature, and vibration are continuously recorded, while material wear is quantified post-test by measuring the mass loss of the carbon pins.

Each material type has been tested under identical running conditions. Initial findings reveal wear rates correlate with material composition. Materials with higher metallic content exhibit greater wear. This behavior is attributed to the self-lubricating nature of graphite; materials with a higher graphite content demonstrate improved wear resistance and longer operational lifespans. This work will present a comparative analysis of wear rates as a function of metallic content across different materials.

Future work will focus on a deeper characterization of the materials’ properties. It will also examine how operating parameters influence both wear rate and wear mechanisms. To achieve this, advanced surface analysis tools will be employed before and after testing. These techniques will help capture detailed material degradation mechanisms and support the development of either unified or material-specific wear models.

Work In Progress