Nano-scale current-carrying friction and wear performance of conductive slip rings: a molecular dynamics study

This study employs molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the nano-scale current-carrying friction and wear behavior of copper/graphite conductive slip rings under varying electric field strengths, normal loads, and sliding velocities. A three-layer MD model comprising graphite, an air gap, and a copper substrate was constructed using Materials Studio and simulated via LAMMPS. Results show that increased electric field strength, load, and sliding speed exacerbate friction force and energy dissipation, while lower parameter values promote the formation of stable tribochemical films and enhance anti-wear performance. These findings provide theoretical guidance for optimizing conductive slip ring design in high-reliability industrial applications.