Plating 1

[caseymessick]

In designing connectors, I understand that you need to consider plating to simplify film management and to protect the contact spring from corrosion. The question I have is from the following scenario:

Copper alloy with nickel underplating and Gold plating on top of the nickel

Why would you need nickel underplating? Is it to provide more hardness that the copper alloy or gold cannot provide?

 

[itsmoked]

Some elements do not bond tightly to others they're plated to. Nickel is a common under-plating that bonds tightly to copper and gold bonds tightly to the nickel. Strength as you suggest can also be a good reason. Nickel is certainly much harder than gold!

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com