A Durable Electroplated Silver Contact Finish for Reusable Connectors

Abstract

Despite its high cost, the high reliability of hard gold has made it the contact finish of choice for applications requiring high durability and low resistivity. Silver, with lower contact resistance and cost, is an attractive alternative to gold. However, the propensity of silver finishes to cold-weld upon contact with other silver finishes results in high coefficients of friction and poor wear performance. This low durability has limited the adoption of silver contact finishes in reusable connectors. Herein, we demonstrate a new high performance electroplated silver connector finish that withstands 10,000 wear cycles with minimal wear and has low coefficient of friction, without requiring external lubricants. DuPont's High Durability Silver finish also exhibits excellent thermal stability and adhesion over nickel, maintaining low resistivity, wear resistance, and good adhesion. Additionally, the acidic plating process is highly efficient and free of acutely toxic components such as cyanide.