Enhanced Erosion Resistance of Reduced Graphene Oxide-Reinforced Cu-W Contacts for Load Current Interruption in High-Voltage Circuit Breakers

This study investigates the arc erosion resistance of reduced graphene oxide-reinforced copper-tungsten (G-Cu-W) composites under normal load current conditions in high-voltage gas circuit breakers (HVCBs). Through systematic arc erosion testing and material characterization, G-Cu-W composites, which consisted of 0.02 wt.% graphene, 20 wt.% Cu, with the remainder being W, demonstrated superior performance compared to traditional Cu-W materials. This increased performance included lower mass loss, reduced surface roughness, and minimal droplet splashing. The enhanced erosion resistance is attributed to the refined tungsten grain structure and improved thermal conductivity facilitated by the graphene dispersion.