Research Status and Progress on the Current-Carrying Friction and Wear Performance of Conductive Slip Rings in Harsh Environments

With the rapid development of aerospace, industrial automation, and weapons manufacturing, the performance requirements for conductive slip rings have become more stringent, and their operating environments have become increasingly harsh, making the study of the effects of harsh environmental conditions on slip rings particularly important. This paper systematically reviews the effects of harsh environments on the current-carrying friction and wear behavior of slip rings, with a detailed discussion on the mechanisms by which environmental factors such as high temperature, humidity, corrosive gases, and vacuum influence the tribological properties of slip ring materials. Research has shown that these harsh environments significantly change the friction coefficient, wear rate, and electrical contact performance of slip rings, causing degradation of material properties. By reviewing current experimental studies and numerical simulations, this paper analyzes the performance variations and failure mechanisms of slip rings in various environments, summarizing the key technological progress in enhancing slip ring performance under such conditions, particularly the application of material modification and surface coating technologies. Additionally, concerning the lifetime prediction and monitoring of slip ring systems, this paper explores the potential of multiphysics simulation technology and intelligent monitoring methods. Finally, this paper looks forward to future research directions, including optimization design based on multiphysics simulation, the development of high-temperature coatings, the improvement of lifetime prediction models, and the optimization of thermal management strategies, aiming to provide theoretical support and technical guidance for enhancing the reliability and durability of slip rings in extreme environments.