Why are we using carbon brushes in the motor?
Why are we always using carbon brushes in motors instead of using copper or other material brushes? Because there are multiple advantages to carbon brushes. Here, we will briefly discuss the benefits of using a carbon brush in DC motors.
Advantages of carbon brush:
There are five main advantages of carbon brush. So we will see one by one here.
High Melting Point
Carbon metal typically has a higher melting point than copper and other metals. The carbon brush has a melting temperature of nearly 3550°C, while copper has a melting temperature of only 1080 °C. We all know that the brushes in a DC motor are connected to the commutator.
Therefore, whenever the motor is running, it produces sparks and friction between the commutator and brushes. If the temperature increases, the copper brush cannot work stably; that’s why we use carbon brushes.
Soft metal
The carbon brush is generally a very soft metal compared to copper. So, whenever the motor is running, friction is produced between the commutator and the brush. As per the softness of the carbon brush, it will not damage the commutator. If we are using a copper brush, it can damage the commutator due to its hardness.
Negative temperature coefficient
The carbon brush has a negative temperature coefficient. It means that whenever the temperature increases, the resistance automatically reduces. We know that motor running time involves friction and heat production, which increases the motor’s temperature. So, the carbon brush reduces resistance due to increasing temperature and current flow, which will improve.
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Shape adopting
The carbon brush generally comes in a rectangular shape, but it has a soft nature. If we fix the new carbon brush near the commutator, once the motor starts to run, it will automatically adopt the circular shape of the commutator.
Self-lubricating
The carbon brush has self-lubricating properties. Therefore, it’s not necessary to use any other type of grease or lubricating oil for cooling purposes. So, whenever the motor stops, the carbon brushes automatically cool down.
Conclusion
To summarise, carbon brushes are utilised in DC motors due to their combination of thermal stability, softness, adaptability, and self-lubricating properties. These characteristics make them far more suitable than copper or other metal brushes, especially in environments where heat, friction, and wear are common.
This is why carbon brushes remain the preferred choice in motor design and manufacturing.
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