Priniciples of Electromechanical Relay Operation
3.13 Contact Performance
Contact theory and its applications to the design of relays constitute a
complex subject that is treated comprehensively in texts. Since this section
is intended to acquaint the reader with the factors that influence contact
performance in service, the discussion is largely limited to presenting the
practical aspects of contact design and circuit engineering. For a detailed
discussion of constriction resistance, plastic flow, arc initiation glow
discharge, tunnel effects, film breakdown, and the like see Reference 5.