Modification of Ag-plated contacts by nitrogen ion implantation

This paper focuses on the effect of nitrogen ion implantation on performance of Ag-plated contacts in a connector. The implant energy is 32-40 keV and implanted doses are between 1/spl sim/4/spl times/10/sup 17/ ions/cm/sup 2/. The wear abrasion and friction tests were made on implanted and unimplanted contacts with an insertion-withdrawal testing apparatus. Moreover, in order to find the anticorrosion ability of the contacts, the diluted sulfuric acid corrosion tests were also made for those specimens. Surface hardness as well as contact resistance were measured during experiments. With the implanted contacts, the performance was found to be more stable and better than those which were unimplanted. By means of SEM micrographs, the paper attempts to explain the mechanisms of the wear resistance, stability of contact resistance, and anticorrosion in implanted contacts. It has been shown that it is a very promising way to improve properties of Ag-plated contacts.