Physical interpretations concerning nonlinear conductivity phenomena across no-load switching contacts

Karagiannopoulos Constantine, G; Bourkas Pericles, D; Dervos Constantine, T; Kagarakis Constantine, A

dc.contributor.author	Karagiannopoulos Constantine, G	en
dc.contributor.author	Bourkas Pericles, D	en
dc.contributor.author	Dervos Constantine, T	en
dc.contributor.author	Kagarakis Constantine, A	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-01T01:08:29Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-01T01:08:29Z
dc.date.issued	1991	en
dc.identifier.issn	0148-6411	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://dspace.lib.ntua.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/10522
dc.subject	Current Density	en
dc.subject	Electric Field	en
dc.subject	Metallic Surface	en
dc.subject	Metal Insulator Metal	en
dc.subject	Negative Differential Conductance	en
dc.subject.classification	Engineering, Manufacturing	en
dc.subject.classification	Engineering, Electrical & Electronic	en
dc.subject.classification	Materials Science, Multidisciplinary	en
dc.subject.other	Electric Conductivity	en
dc.subject.other	Electric Contacts--Electric Conductivity	en
dc.subject.other	No-Load Switching Contacts	en
dc.subject.other	Nonlinear Conductivity Phenomena	en
dc.subject.other	Switch Overheat Tests	en
dc.subject.other	Electric Switches	en
dc.title	Physical interpretations concerning nonlinear conductivity phenomena across no-load switching contacts	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.identifier.primary	10.1109/33.76523	en
heal.identifier.secondary	http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/33.76523	en
heal.language	English	en
heal.publicationDate	1991	en
heal.abstract	No-load switching contacts may be operated when the associated electric circuit is power disconnected. Their practical characterization is mainly based on the resistance value between the contacting joints. Contact resistance evaluations are usually based on various parameters, such as geometry, pressure, effective contact area, heat dissipation, and foreign matter on contacting surfaces, i.e., dust particles, atmospheric contamination, and thin oxide layers. In this paper, data are presented which may aid physical interpretations concerning no-load switching contacts under high current density operation. Measurements were performed on industrial switches having the following nominal values: isolation switches 400 V/100 A, isolation switches 20 kV/200 A, and fuse isolators 20 kV/100 A. It is convincingly shown that beyond a threshold field intensity (corresponding to smaller currents than the nominal values) nonlinear I-V relationship may develop, leading to bistability and negative differential conductance phenomena. This has been attributed to the dominating tunnelling current component between oxidized (or nonideally contacted) metallic surfaces at high electric fields, resulting in an increased effective area of contact. The well established metal-insulator-metal (MIM) theory, as well as that concerning nonlinear current voltage phenomena developing in insulating solids at high electric fields, provide the required theoretical basis for the interpretation of the obtained curves.	en
heal.publisher	IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC	en
heal.journalName	IEEE transactions on components, hybrids, and manufacturing technology	en
dc.identifier.doi	10.1109/33.76523	en
dc.identifier.isi	ISI:A1991FD67300024	en
dc.identifier.volume	14	en
dc.identifier.issue	1	en
dc.identifier.spage	137	en
dc.identifier.epage	142	en