Wear Resistance Characterization for Plated Connectors

The wear resistance of connectors plated with precious metal and precious metal alloy systems is characterized under conditions of high normal load (300 g) in tests ranging from !00 to 25 000 mating cycles. Contact resistance measurements and optical microscopy as well as the surface analytical techniques of Auger electron spectroscopy and · , .. . energy-dispersive X-ray analysis are utilized in the characterization of wear test performance. The wear life in terms of satisfactory connector performance is investigated. The results indicated that the electrical, chemical, and mechanical integrity of a coating system consisting of a palladium-nickel alloy PlUs a thin gold overcoat remained esentially unchanged through 25 000 mating cycles, A conventional electrodeposited hard gold system wore out after 2000 to 3000 mating cycles.