Wipe-Reverse Wipe Design and the Evaluation of Brass/Copper-Beryllium for Electrical Contacts Under Highly Contaminating Conditions

A wipe-reverse wipe technique, which may be incorporated in the design of electrical contact closure mechanisms, was found to markedly decrease the contact resistance of electrical switches even when very heavily contaminated with surfaces oxides, sulfides, or chlorides. The use of this technique reduces the sensitivity of electrical contact operation to environmental contaminants, allows a reduction in the closure force, and allows the substitution of inexpensive base metal's for precious metals in many electrical contact applications. Brass and copper-beryllium contacts were evaluated under several very highly contaminated conditions.