Is plating of conductive parts mandatory?

The conductive parts of the terminal materials will generally choose brass, copper and other copper alloy materials, in order to increase the conductivity of the terminal conductive metal conductivity, reduce the oxidation of metal molecules, we need to give it a surface treatment plus a suitable “coat” - plating layer.

In the specific use of the environment will cause corrosion of the terminals, such as oxidation and sulfidation of conductive parts, etc., after plating the conductive parts can make the reed and environmental isolation to prevent corrosion from occurring.

Plating of materials to avoid corrosion, at least in the application environment, so the current general plating method using tinned cerium (process non-toxic, good environmental protection, good mechanical strength, good corrosion resistance, good weldability) and so on.

Optimization of terminal surface performance can be achieved in two ways. One is in the design of the terminal, to establish and maintain a stable terminal contact interface. The second is to establish a metallic contact, which requires that any surface film layer is absent or will rupture when inserted.

In other words, making it easier to achieve metal-to-metal contact. We have to consider is how to keep the surface of the terminal “noble”, not subject to external factors, such as pollution, substrate diffusion, terminal corrosion and so on.

Terminal conductive parts of the surface whether plated with gold, palladium or tin and lead and its alloy plating layer, the role is the same, only due to the plating layer of the film layer of different chemical properties, corresponding to the role of the metal in the terminals of the contact strength, insertion and extraction strength will be different, thus affecting the service life of the conductive parts.