Electrical resistance through the metallic granular packings

Abstract

The resistance drop with time in metallic granular materials has been the subject of research since the 19th century, but it is still not fully clarified. The wider application of granular materials in the industry has contributed to the increased interest in this phenomenon. The key parameters that are mainly examined are as follows: the influence of different packings, dimensions, and shapes of the granules, as well as the influence of the pressure, exerted on them. However, there is a limited number of papers that examine the temporal evolution of the resistance in these materials. In this report, we investigate how different packings of two-dimensional stainless steel beads (inox) as well as different currents injected into them affect the temporal evolution of resistance. We also examine the effect of the breaks in the current flow for the current varied between 0.2 and 8 mA for both inox beads as well as low-carbon steel cylinders. The results show the drop of resistance over time for all current values, which is more pronounced in earlier stages of the time evolution. Interruptions in current flow cause an immediate decrease of resistance in both materials.