Electro-mechanical Performance Improvement of Pantograph Strip for High-speed Railway

Pantograph strip is one kind of carbon-metal composites, which plays the key role of supplying the electrical energy to the electrified train through the sliding contact with the overhead lines. However, due to the natural non-wetting of metal with the carbon graphite matrix, the interface bonding strength of composite materials is weak, which significantly restricts the electro-mechanical properties. In this study, the method of using active element to modified pantograph strip material, we successfully improved the wettability between the metal with carbon matrix, and the interface performance can be effectively optimized, the electro-mechanical properties of the impregnated mental carbon strip have been both improved. The compressive and flexural strength of the C/Al composite pantograph strip increased by 70% and 52% respectively, and the electrical conductivity increased by 79%; The compressive and flexural strength of the C/Cu composite pantograph strip increased by 37.4% and 120.4% respectively, and the electrical conductivity increased by 140.8%. This study is helpful for understanding the wetting behavior of metal with carbon, and is conducive to promoting development pantograph strip in high-speed railway.