Abstract <p>The results of testing wear resistance of electrodes made of carbon-graphite materials, W–Ag composite (KMK-A61), Mo–Cu alloys, Cr–Cu–W alloy, pure tungsten, and grade U8 high-carbon steel are considered. These electrodes are used in arc-extinguishing devices of SF₆ gas circuit breakers. The specific wear of material is taken as the wear resistance criterion, formulated as the ratio of the volume loss to the equivalent energy affecting the elements of the arc device. Features of the erosion of carbon graphite electrodes and fluoroplastic nozzles in an electric arc discharge are established. It is shown that electrodes of carbon-graphite materials with fine-grained structure, low ash content, and high density, doped with titanium and boron compounds, exhibit the greatest wear resistance. The wear resistance of electrodes made of W–Ag composite, molybdenum-copper alloys, Cr–Cu–W alloy, pure tungsten and grade U8 high-carbon steel has been established. Features of the erosion of electrodes of these materials at the tripping of short-circuit currents in SF₆ gas are determined. Using carbon-graphite materials as an alternative to electrodes of W–Cu and W–Ag composites is justified due to the lower wear of the electrodes and the accompanying lower wear of fluoroplastic nozzles. For arc-extinguishing devices of SF₆ gas puffer breakers with a uniflow stream of gas, preferential wear of the electrode located downstream of the gas flow is established.</p>