Microstructural analysis of A356-T6 aluminum alloy on high tension connectors

Abstract

Some electrical companies have reported that during the service time, high tension connectors in energy transmission lines as well as power substations, there have been several cases where such elements exhibited an important decrease of their performance efficiency. Several studies have been carried out allowing the determination of changes in the mechanical and electrical properties of connectors caused by high levels of temperature reached for the circuits. In this paper we show the microstructural changes observed on an aluminum alloy A356-T6 (connectors manufacturing material) promoted by means thermal and electrical tests under simulated service conditions and their correlation to mechanical properties variations.