Assembly with electrical feedthrough and method of manufacturing thereof

By selectively coating electrical feeders using an electrodeposition method, the problems of complex electroplating processes and coating defects are solved, resulting in a uniform, defect-free coating that improves the oxidation resistance and electrical contact performance of the electrical conductor.

CN122117522APending Publication Date: 2026-05-29SCHOTT AG

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
SCHOTT AG
Filing Date
2025-11-26
Publication Date
2026-05-29

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing electroplating processes require individual electrical contact when coating electrical feeders, which leads to complex processes and coating defects, affecting the oxidation resistance and electrical contact performance of the conductors.

Method used

An electrodeposition-free method is employed, in which the exposed surfaces of the electrical conductor and the substrate are selectively coated. The first coating is applied only to selected areas, avoiding defects caused by electrical contact. The coating thickness is uniform and defect-free.

Benefits of technology

It enables rapid and simple coating application, with uniform and defect-free coating thickness, improving the oxidation resistance and electrical contact quality of electrical conductors, and saving materials.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

An assembly (1) with at least one electrical feedthrough (2) comprises a body (10) with an opening (12) through which an electrical conductor (16) is held in electrical insulation from the body by a fixing material (14) which closes the opening. The surface of the conductor not covered by the material is wholly provided with a first coating (20), the surface of the conductor covered by the material is free of the first coating; the surface of the body not covered by the material is free of the first coating, optionally provided with a second coating different from the first coating. Alternatively, the surface of the body not covered by the material is wholly provided with the first coating, the surface of the body covered by the material is free of the first coating; the surface of the conductor not covered by the material is free of the first coating, optionally provided with a second coating (30) different from the first coating. The first coating has one or more layers, at least the outermost layer being a layer of electroless deposition of the first coating material.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an assembly with at least one electrical feedthrough, comprising a body having at least one opening through which an electrical conductor passes and is held in the opening in a manner electrically insulated from the body by a fixing material, wherein the fixing material closes the opening. In this case, the electrical conductor and / or the body are provided with a coating. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such an assembly. Background Technology

[0002] Components with electrical feeders are used in various fields, such as in airbag igniters, housings of electronic or optoelectronic components, and electrically driven compressors. In this case, the component may include one or more electrical feeders, each comprising a body and an electrical conductor passing through an opening in the body. In this case, the electrical conductor is held in the opening by an electrically insulating fixing material, and the opening is sealed leak-proofly by the fixing material. Such electrical feeders are also referred to as fixing material / metal feeders.

[0003] Typical fixture / metal feedthrough manufacturing involves fusing electrical conductors (especially metal leads or terminal leads) into a preform, which is inserted into the body along with the conductor. The fixture is obtained from the preform through temperature treatment.

[0004] DE 10 2014 219 124 A1 discloses such a fixed material / metal feeder for an airbag igniter. To prevent oxidation or functionalization of the surface of the through-conductor, it is specified that the conductor be coated with gold by an electroplating process.

[0005] In electroplating, the part to be coated (in this case, the electrical conductor of an electrically connected component) is electrically contacted and immersed in the coating solution. The thickness of the resulting coating can be adjusted by controlling the current intensity and duration. The main body, which is electrically insulated from the conductor by a fixed material, is not coated during this process.

[0006] A known drawback of electroplating is that each conductor in the electrical feeder to be coated must be individually electrically contacted, making the process slow and complex. Furthermore, defects in the coating often occur at the contact points where the conductors make electrical contact, and these defects can become the starting point for corrosion. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an assembly in which selected components are selectively coated only, wherein the coating of the components is defect-free, and wherein the coating can be easily manufactured without the need for electrical contact between the individual electrical conductors.

[0008] An assembly is proposed having at least one electrical feedthrough, comprising a body with an opening through which an electrical conductor passes and is held in the opening in an electrically insulated manner from the body by a fixing material, wherein the fixing material closes the opening, and wherein the electrical conductor and the body are metallic components. The surface of the electrical conductor not covered by the fixing material is entirely provided with a first coating, the surface of the electrical conductor covered by the fixing material does not have the first coating, and the surface of the body not covered by the fixing material does not have the first coating and optionally has a second coating different from the first coating; or the surface of the body not covered by the fixing material is entirely provided with the first coating, the surface of the body covered by the fixing material does not have the first coating, and the surface of the electrical conductor not covered by the fixing material does not have the first coating and optionally has a second coating different from the first coating.

[0009] Furthermore, it is envisioned that the first coating has one or more layers, and at least the outermost layer of the first coating is an electroless deposition layer of the first coating material. If the first coating has only a single layer, then that layer is also the outermost layer.

[0010] Therefore, the electrical feedthrough has at least two metal components, namely an electrical conductor and a body, wherein, after the electrical feedthrough is formed, the electrical conductor passes through an opening in the body and is held in place by a fixing material, and a first coating is selectively applied to only one of the two components. The other component remains without the first coating in all cases.

[0011] The outermost layer of the first coating, obtained through electroless deposition, is obtained by immersing an unfinished assembly, including at least one electrical feeder, in a bath containing a coating solution, particularly an electrolyte solution. In the absence of an external current supply, the first coating material is selectively deposited from the bath onto the surfaces of the electrical conductors or body that are not covered by a fixing material and are thus exposed, wherein the surface of another component remains uncoated in all cases. To achieve this selective deposition, the metallic material or surface material of the body and electrical conductors is selected such that only one of these components is coated during the electroless deposition process, while the corresponding other component remains uncoated.

[0012] The assembly may include more than one electrical feeder, wherein multiple electrical feeders may share a common body. The electrical feeders are preferably designed as fixed-material / metal feeders. Such fixed-material / metal feeders can be obtained, for example, by providing a fixed-material blank (e.g., in the form of a tube segment composed of glass or a preform composed of glass powder) and inserting it together with an electrical conductor into an opening in the body. The fixed-material blank is melted by temperature treatment to form a fixed material. In this process, the fixed material forms a seal relative to the opening wall and the electrical conductor. A first coating is applied after the electrical feeder is formed and thus only covers the electrical conductor or body surface not covered by the fixed material.

[0013] Because the first coating is applied subsequently, it is possible to select a material for the first coating that is not resistant to the high temperatures involved in the formation of the electrical feedthrough. Such coating materials may melt or, at elevated temperatures, diffuse (mutually) with the underlying material, electrical conductor, or body material. As a result, the coating may fail to function. An example of this is a gold layer intended to improve electrical contact with electrical conductors or provide antioxidant protection.

[0014] Here, taking advantage of the selectivity of the electroless coating method used, the first coating or the outermost layer of the first coating is applied only to selected portions or parts of the component. This is advantageous, for example, in the case of gold coatings, which can be used to provide antioxidant protection and improve the electrical connection between electrical contacts and conductors. This saves material on the one hand, and on the other hand, the uncoated parts retain their properties.

[0015] One characteristic of electrodeposition is the high uniformity of the deposited layer thickness, allowing for complete coating of surfaces of the component not covered by the fixing material, as there are no defects arising from electrical contact. In contrast, the localized layer thickness in electrodeposition depends on the local electric field strength and the locally available cathode current density, and this thickness is not uniform, particularly influenced by the geometry and orientation of the component in the electrolyte. At locations with significant bends, corners, or edges, the local current intensity depends on whether the bend is convex or concave, and whether it increases or decreases, which is reflected in corresponding variations in coating thickness. Therefore, for example, in outer edge regions, such as at the ends of conductors, the electric field strength or current density locally increases, resulting in more material being deposited there during electroplating than in flatter areas. Consequently, electroplated conductors typically have a greater layer thickness at their ends than, for example, in areas farther from the ends. Furthermore, the coating of the electroplated conductor or body has at least one defect located at the site of electrical contact for electrodeposition. In contrast, electrodeposition-free coatings do not have this defect. The resulting coating can be complete and continuous, although for thin layers with a thickness ranging from tens of nanometers to a few micrometers, porosity cannot be completely avoided, and in the context of this specification, layers with such small pores are still considered complete and continuous layers.

[0016] Here, electroless deposition is divided into two groups: ion or charge exchange deposition (diffusion deposition, impregnation deposition; in this case, the substrate itself acts as a reducing agent); and autocatalytic deposition (chemical deposition; in this case, the reducing agent is contained in the coating solution). Materials with autocatalytic activity initiate the deposition of the layer itself (in the case of nickel as the material to be deposited, these materials are, for example, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, and Pt). Materials involved in external catalysis do not act as catalysts themselves, but only become catalytically active through nucleation by materials with autocatalytic activity. For materials that are less reactive than the material to be deposited in the electrolyte solution, the nucleus of the material to be deposited is initially formed by diffusion deposition. In the case of nickel coatings, Ni nuclei are initially deposited by charge exchange (diffusion deposition). In the case of nickel as the material to be deposited, these less reactive materials include, for example, Be or Fe. Therefore, these materials can also be electroless coated.

[0017] Here, diffusion plating specifically refers to the application of a catalytically active nucleus to the surface to be coated before or at the beginning of the coating process. In an electrolyte solution, materials that are more reactive than the material to be deposited and do not have autocatalytic activity, and therefore cannot be catalyzed by diffusion plating of Ni nuclei in the case of nickel, can be made catalytically active by, for example, by applying a short cathode current pulse in the coating solution and the accompanying Ni nuclei deposition, depositing a nickel impact layer, or applying other catalytically active nuclei to the surface.

[0018] An electrical conductor or a body having a first coating is provided, either wholly or at least composed of a first metallic material capable of being coated with the first coating material without electricity, or having an intermediate layer composed of the first metallic material capable of being coated with the first coating material without electricity. This intermediate layer can also be electroless deposited by appropriate material selection, or alternatively, it can be manufactured by other coating methods.

[0019] The first metallic material is preferably selected such that its surface is catalytically active for electrodeposition, or becomes catalytically active by applying a catalytically active core. Preferred examples of suitable first metallic materials are Ag, Ag alloys, Cu, Cu alloys, Ni, Ni alloys without passivation layers, platinum group metals and platinum group metal alloys, Fe, steel without passivation layers, Co and Co alloys without passivation layers, Kovar alloys, Mn and Mn alloys without passivation layers, Zn, Zn alloys, Sn and Sn alloys.

[0020] Here, the passivation layer is specifically understood as an oxide layer formed on the surface of the corresponding material, preventing electroless deposition, and thus remaining passive relative to the electroless deposition of the first coating material. In the case of stainless steel, for example, chromium and oxygen on the material surface will form a chromium oxide layer that is passive relative to electroless deposition, thus making it impossible to coat with the first coating material. If a material with such a passivation layer is to be coated, the passivation layer must be removed before electroless coating to ensure that the surface is free of such passivation or oxide layers.

[0021] The body without a first coating or the electrical conductor without a first coating is composed entirely or at least on its surface of a second metallic material that cannot be coated with the first coating material without electricity, or has a second coating, the individual or outermost layer of which is composed of a second metallic material that cannot be coated with the first coating material without electricity.

[0022] Therefore, the second metallic material is selected to make its surface passive to the coating solution. Preferred examples of suitable second metallic materials are stainless steel with a passivation layer (e.g., a chromium oxide layer), nickel alloys with a passivation layer, and especially nickel alloys containing Mo, Cu, and / or Cr. Metals Ti, Mo, W, Al, Nb, Cr, Zr, Hf, V, Ta, and their alloys are also suitable.

[0023] For metallic materials that form a passivation layer, the passivation layer can be interpreted as a second coating. Since the passivation layer forms naturally on these metallic materials, for simplicity, in the context of this specification, the passivation layer is considered as part of the second metallic material.

[0024] The first coating material is preferably selected from the group consisting of: nickel (NiP) containing a certain proportion of phosphorus, nickel (NiB) containing a certain proportion of boron, Ni, Cu, Sn, Ag, palladium (PdP) containing a certain proportion of phosphorus, Pd and Au.

[0025] Chemical deposition of nickel can occur, for example, in the form of nickel-phosphorus or nickel-boron layers. In both cases, the component is immersed in an aqueous coating solution, particularly containing nickel salts and reducing agents. In the case of nickel-phosphorus coatings, hypophosphite is used as a reducing agent, for example, while in the case of nickel-boron layers, borohydrides are typically used. The coating process occurs through autocatalysis, therefore only surfaces that are catalytically active or have become catalytically active through, for example, dip-plating, are coated with nickel or the corresponding nickel alloy.

[0026] Electroless deposition of copper (Cu) can also be carried out chemically. The prerequisite for deposition is a first metallic material that is autocatalytic or less inert than Cu. In the latter case, Cu nucleation initially occurs through diffusion plating.

[0027] Electroless deposition of silver (Ag) can occur either chemically or through diffusion plating (immersion deposition, silver immersion). A prerequisite for chemical deposition is a first metallic material that is either autocatalytic or less inert than Ag. In the latter case, Ag nucleation is initially achieved through diffusion plating.

[0028] Electroless deposition of tin (Sn) can also occur chemically or through diffusion plating. The prerequisite for deposition is a first metallic material that is autocatalytic or less inert than Sn.

[0029] Electronile deposition of palladium can occur chemically (e.g., forming a palladium-phosphorus layer) and through diffusion deposition (immersion deposition, palladium impregnation). A prerequisite for deposition is a first metallic material that is autocatalytic or less inert than Pd. In the latter case, Pd nucleation initially occurs through diffusion deposition.

[0030] Electroless deposition of gold (Au) can occur via chemical methods (autocatalysis), through infiltration (immersion deposition, immersion gold), and semi-autocatalytic methods. A prerequisite for chemical deposition is a first metallic material that is autocatalytic or less inert than Au. In the latter case, Au nucleation initially occurs through infiltration. Semi-autocatalytic deposition represents a hybrid form of pure immersion deposition and autocatalytic deposition. This method, for example in the case of a chemiluminescent nickel / immersion gold layer system, reduces the corrosion and erosion of the underlying chemiluminescent nickel layer inherent in immersion deposition methods through a corresponding autocatalytic reaction mechanism.

[0031] The first coating preferably comprises multiple layers. In this case, a nickel layer, such as a nickel-phosphorus layer, is preferably used as the first layer. This nickel layer allows the other layers of the coating to be deposited via an electroless process. The nickel layer can be used for corrosion protection.

[0032] In one example, exactly two layers are used, where the first layer is a nickel layer or nickel alloy layer, and the second layer is a gold layer. This layer combination is advantageous as a contact surface for welding and can be used, for example, for aluminum wire bonding.

[0033] In another example, exactly three layers are used, where the first layer is a nickel layer or nickel alloy layer, the second layer is a palladium layer or palladium alloy layer, and the third layer is a gold layer. This layer combination is advantageous as a contact surface for welding and can be used, for example, for gold wire bonding.

[0034] All electrical conductors are preferably selected from the same metallic material, or their surfaces are selected from the same metallic material, so that all electrical conductors are either capable of being electroless coated or are not capable of being electroless coated. Alternatively, it can be considered that one or more electrical conductors are selected from other metallic materials or that their surfaces are selected from other metallic materials that cannot be electroless coated. Thus, it can be ensured in a selective manner that only selected electrical conductors are provided with the first coating, while other unselected electrical conductors remain without the first coating.

[0035] The preferred substrate material for which electroless coating is not feasible is austenitic stainless steel. In this case, a passivation layer exists on the stainless steel surface, which prevents the first coating material from being applied electroless.

[0036] Nickel-iron alloys, such as NiFe45, are particularly suitable as materials for electroless coating of electrical conductors. Other materials that are very suitable for electroless coating of conductors include nickel-cobalt alloys, such as NiCo2918, and wires with copper cores and nickel-iron sheaths.

[0037] The fixing material is preferably selected from the group consisting of glass, glass-ceramics, or ceramics. To form a preform or fixing material blank, the starting material can be molded into a fixing material blank in powder form together with a binder. However, the fixing material blank can also be supplied, for example, in the form of pipe sections.

[0038] The resulting fixed material / metal feeder is preferably of an airtight design. In the context of this invention, an airtight seal refers to a seal having a density less than 1 × 10⁻⁶. -8 Feeder with a helium leakage rate of mbar·l / s.

[0039] The component may also include one or more grounding conductors. Such grounding conductors are electrically connected to and secured to the body, for example, by welding or brazing.

[0040] According to embodiments, the grounding conductor may be composed of a metallic material on its surface, or its surface may include a metallic material that can be coated without electricity or cannot be coated without electricity. If the metallic material of the main body is also a material that can be coated without electricity, then a metallic material that can be coated without electricity is preferred; conversely, if the metallic material of the main body is also not a material that can be coated without electricity, then a metallic material that cannot be coated without electricity is preferred.

[0041] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing the components described herein.

[0042] In the first step of the method, an electrical conductor is supplied having or being composed of a first metallic material on its surface, and a body with an opening is supplied having or being composed of a second metallic material on its surface. Alternatively, a body with an opening is supplied having or being composed of a first metallic material on its surface, and an electrical conductor is supplied having or being composed of a second metallic material on its surface. Furthermore, a fixed material blank is supplied.

[0043] Next, the electrical conductor and the blank of the fixing material are inserted into the opening of the main body. Then, the electrical conductor is embedded and the fixing material is formed by temperature treatment. During this process, the electrical feedthrough is formed, and an unfinished assembly is obtained.

[0044] After obtaining the unfinished component, a first coating material layer is electrolessly deposited on the exposed surface of the electrical conductor or on the exposed surface of the body by immersing the unfinished component in a coating solution. If necessary, the unfinished component can be pretreated before electroless coating. This may include cleaning the surface.

[0045] Optionally, the coating steps can be repeated by immersing the unfinished component in one or more additional coating solutions, resulting in a first coating obtained through one or more coating steps comprising one or more layers. Here, the last corresponding layer obtained in the first coating is the outermost layer.

[0046] Example First, an unfinished assembly with an electrical feeder was manufactured. To manufacture the unfinished assembly, a body made of austenitic stainless steel (material number 1.4404) and an electrical conductor made of NiFe45 were used. A glass preform was used as the preform for forming the fixing material. The electrical conductor and the glass preform were inserted into an opening in the body and fused together in a furnace.

[0047] First, clean the surface of the unfinished components to remove grease and oxides from the electrical conductor surfaces, which will form a passivation layer.

[0048] The unfinished assembly is then inserted into an electroless nickel electrolyte to deposit a nickel-phosphorus layer. After achieving the desired layer thickness, the unfinished assembly is rinsed in a water bath and then inserted into a bath containing an immersion gold electrolyte.

[0049] By appropriately selecting the metal materials of the electrical conductor and the body, a double coating is selectively applied only to the electrical conductor in the resulting assembly. This coating has an intermediate layer composed of nickel-phosphorus and an outermost layer composed of gold.

[0050] In the proposed selective electroless coating process, the individual electrical conductors of the component can be electroplated advantageously without needing to come into contact with the electrical connection. Individual unfinished components can be simply immersed in the coating solution or electrolyte, and their electrical conductors can be coated selectively. This allows for the rapid and simple coating of large quantities of components. Furthermore, the proposed electroless coating has the advantage of achieving a uniform layer thickness, and in particular, the layer thickness at the conductor ends is not greater. Moreover, the electroless deposited coating does not have any of the defects that typically occur at points of contact with electrical connections. Such defects should be avoided to prevent, for example, corrosion. Furthermore, the method is selective, resulting in the substrate remaining uncoated and thus preserving the properties of the substrate material. Attached Figure Description

[0051] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the invention is not limited thereto. Here, the same reference numerals denote the same or similar elements.

[0052] In the attached diagram: Figure 1 An assembly with three electrical feeders is shown, wherein the conductors are selectively coated; Figure 2 An assembly with three electrical feeders is shown, wherein the body is selectively coated; Figure 3 An assembly with three electrical feeders is shown, wherein the body and conductors are selectively coated; Figure 4 An assembly with a feedthrough and selectively coated conductor is shown; Figure 5 An assembly with an electrical feedthrough and selectively coated conductors is shown; and Figure 6 An assembly with an electrical feeder, a selectively coated conductor, and an additional grounding conductor is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0053] Figure 1 A first example of component 1 is shown in a side schematic cross-sectional view, in which the component has three electrical feeders 2. The electrical feeders 2 have a common body 10, which has an opening 12 for each electrical feeder 2. An electrical conductor 16 passes through each opening 12. The electrical conductors 16 are all embedded in a fixing material 14, which holds the respective conductor 16 and electrically insulates it from the body 10.

[0054] exist Figure 1 In the example shown, the surface 17 of the conductor 16 not covered by the fixing material 14 is provided with a first coating 20. This first coating 20 is selectively applied to the conductor 16 after the electrical feeder 2 is formed. Therefore, the surface portion of the conductor 16 covered by the fixing material 14 does not have the first coating 20. Because the first coating 20 is applied selectively, only the material of the electrical conductor 16 is coated. Correspondingly, the surface 11 of the body 10 does not have the first coating 20.

[0055] exist Figure 1 In the example shown, the first coating 20 is a single layer, and therefore it is also the outermost layer 22. This outermost layer 22 is applied to the surface 17 of the conductor 16 by electroless deposition. Due to the electroless coating, the first coating 20, or the outermost layer 22 of the first coating 20, does not exhibit an increase in layer thickness at the edges (e.g., the ends of the conductor 16) across the entire coated surface of the electrical conductor 16. Furthermore, since no electrical connections for electroplating are required, the first coating 20 is completely continuous and advantageously free of defects.

[0056] In the example shown, the first coating 20 or the outermost layer 22 is, for example, a nickel-phosphorus layer or a gold layer. To achieve an electroless coating on the surface 17 of the electrical conductor 16, the material of the electrical conductor 16 is chosen to allow for such an electroless coating. In the example shown, the electrical conductor 16 is composed of NiFe45.

[0057] In contrast, the surface 11 of the body 10 does not have a first coating 20 because the material of the body 10 is chosen to prevent electroless coating. In the example shown, the body 10 is made of stainless steel with a passivation layer formed on its surface, thus preventing electroless coating with nickel-phosphorus or gold layers.

[0058] exist Figure 1 In the example shown, all three electrical conductors 16 are composed of the same material, which can be electroless coated. Alternatively, one or more electrical conductors 16 could be selected from some other materials that cannot be electroless coated, or they could be provided with a second coating 30, see [reference needed]. Figure 3 The second coating cannot be applied without electricity. Therefore, it is possible to selectively ensure that only selected electrical conductors 16 are provided with the first coating 20, while other unselected electrical conductors 16 remain without the first coating 20.

[0059] In the example shown, the first coating 20 is a single layer, and therefore it is also the outermost layer 22. Additional layers can be applied by repeating the coating process with different coating solutions. See below for reference. Figure 4 In the described example, the first coating 20 has two layers. An intermediate layer 24 is additionally disposed below the outermost layer 22. See below for reference. Figure 5 In the described example, the first coating 20 has three layers. Starting with the outermost layer 22, the outermost layer 22, the additional intermediate layer 26, and the intermediate layer 24 are arranged sequentially. In other embodiments, it is also conceivable to provide more than three layers, such as four or five layers.

[0060] Figure 2 A second example of component 1 is shown in a side-view schematic cross-sectional view, in which the component includes three electrical feeders 2. (See reference...) Figure 1 The electrical feeders 2 have a common body 10 with an opening 12 for each electrical feeder 2. An electrical conductor 16 passes through each opening 12. The electrical conductors 16 are embedded in a fixing material 14, which holds the respective conductor 16 and electrically insulates it from the body 10.

[0061] exist Figure 2In the example shown, the surface 11 of the body 10 not covered by the fixing material 14 is provided with a first coating 20. This first coating 20 is selectively applied to the body 10 after the electrical feeder 2 is formed. Therefore, the portion of the body 10 covered by the fixing material 14 does not have the first coating 20. Because the first coating 20 is applied selectively, only the material of the body 10 is coated. Correspondingly, the surface 17 of the electrical conductor 16 does not have the first coating 20.

[0062] For reference Figure 1 In the described example, the first coating 20 has a single layer, namely the outermost layer 22, which is applied to the surface 11 of the body 10 by electroless deposition. Due to the electroless coating, the first coating 20, or the outermost layer 22 of the first coating 20, covers the entire coated surface of the body 10 without any increase in thickness at the edges. Furthermore, since no electrical connections for electroplating are required, the first coating 20 is completely continuous and advantageously free of defects.

[0063] The outermost layer 22 of the first coating 20 can also be, for example, a nickel-phosphorus layer. In this example, the material chosen for the body is a steel that does not form a passivation layer, so an electroless coating can be performed using a nickel-phosphorus layer. In contrast, the material of the electrical conductor 16 is, for example, stainless steel that forms a passivation layer, so an electroless coating cannot be performed. Accordingly, the surface 17 of the electrical conductor 16 does not have the first coating 20.

[0064] Figure 3 A third example of component 1 is schematically shown, in which the component has three electrical feeders 2. The structure of component 1 corresponds to the reference. Figure 1 The first example described. Unlike the first example, the surface 11 of the body 10 is not without any coating, but is provided with a second coating 30, which is different from the first coating 20. Figure 3 In the example shown, the second coating 30 is applied to the surface 11 of the body 10 before the component 1 is formed, so the second coating 30 covers the entire surface 11, including the portion of the surface 11 of the body 10 adjacent to the fixing material 14. However, alternatively, it is also conceivable that the second coating 30 does not completely cover the surface 11 of the body 10.

[0065] The second coating 30 may have one or more layers. Figure 3 In the depicted example, the second coating 30 has exactly one layer, and therefore it is also the outermost layer of the second coating 30. The second coating 30, or the outermost layer of the second coating 30, is composed of a second coating material that is chosen to prevent electroless coating. Therefore, for Figure 3In the example shown, the body 10 may be composed of the same material as the electrical conductor 16, or of a first metallic material that can be coated with the first coating material. However, selective coating is still possible because the material of the body 10 is covered by the second coating 30.

[0066] Figure 4 A fourth example of component 1 is schematically shown, in which the component has a single electrical feeder 2. The electrical feeder 2 has a body 10 with an opening 12. An electrical conductor 16 passes through the opening 12 and is embedded in a retaining material 14, which holds the electrical conductor 16 and electrically insulates it from the body 10.

[0067] exist Figure 4 In the example shown, the first coating 20 has exactly two layers. Starting from the surface 17 of the conductor 16, the first coating 20 sequentially has an intermediate layer 24 and an outermost layer 22. Both layers, namely the intermediate layer 24 and the outermost layer 22, can be electroless deposited. Figure 4 In the example described, the intermediate layer 24 and the outermost layer 22 are applied after the electrical feeder 2 is formed, so these two layers only cover the portion of the surface 17 of the electrical conductor 16 that is not covered by the fixing material 14.

[0068] Alternatively, it is possible that only the outermost layer 22 is not electrodeposited, while the intermediate layer 24 is applied by other methods, namely, by electroplating. In this case, if the intermediate layer 24 is applied before the electrical feed 2 is formed, unlike the outermost layer 22, the intermediate layer 24 will cover the entire surface 17 of the electrical conductor 16, that is, also including the portion of the electrical conductor 16 covered by the fixing material 14.

[0069] The intermediate layer 24 can be, for example, a nickel-phosphorus layer, while the outermost layer 22 can be a gold layer.

[0070] Figure 5 A fifth example of component 1 is schematically shown, in which the component has a single electrical feedthrough 2. The fifth example substantially corresponds to the reference. Figure 4 The fourth example is described, but in the fifth example, the first coating 20 is manifested as having exactly three layers. Starting from the surface 17 of the electrical conductor 16, the first coating 20 has an intermediate layer 24, an additional intermediate layer 26, and an outermost layer 22.

[0071] The intermediate layer 24 can be, for example, a nickel layer. The additional intermediate layer 26 can be a palladium layer, while the outermost layer 22 can be a gold layer.

[0072] exist Figure 5In the example described, the intermediate layer 24 is applied to the electrical conductor 16 before the electrical feedthrough 2 is formed, thus completely covering the electrical conductor 16. After the electrical feedthrough 2 is formed, an additional intermediate layer 26 is applied first, and the outermost layer 22 is applied last. Both the additional intermediate layer 26 and the outermost layer 22 can be electrodeposited. In particular, the intermediate layer 24 can be, for example, a nickel layer applied by electroplating.

[0073] exist Figure 5 In the example described, both the additional intermediate layer 26 and the outermost layer 22 can be electroless deposited. However, it is also possible to consider applying the additional intermediate layer 26 by other methods, such as electroplating, with only the outermost layer 22 being electroless deposited.

[0074] Figure 6 A sixth example of component 1 is schematically shown, in which the component has a single electrical feedthrough 2. The electrical feedthrough 2 has a body 10 with an opening 12. An electrical conductor 16 passes through the opening 12 and is embedded in a retaining material 14, which holds the electrical conductor 16 and electrically insulates it from the body 10. Figure 6 In the example, the first coating 20 has exactly one layer, and therefore it is also the outermost layer 22.

[0075] exist Figure 6 In the example shown, in addition to the electrical conductor 16 of the electrical feeder 2, component 1 also has a ground conductor 40, which is electrically connected to the body 10. The ground conductor 40 is connected, for example, using welding material 42. However, it is also possible to connect the ground conductor 40 to the body 10 by other methods, such as welding.

[0076] In the sixth example shown, the grounding conductor 40 is composed of the same material as the body 10, or of a different material that is also impossible to electroless coat. Therefore, in this example, neither the grounding conductor 40 nor the body 10 has the first coating 20.

[0077] Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited thereto and can be modified in various ways.

[0078] List of reference numerals 1 component 2 Electrical feeder 10 main body 11 Main body surface 12 Openings 14. Fixing materials 16 conductors 17 Conductor surface 20 First Coating 22 Outermost layer 24 Intermediate Layer 26. Other intermediate layers 30 Second coating 40 Grounding conductor 42 Welding materials

Claims

1. An assembly (1) having at least one electrical feeder (2), comprising a body (10) having an opening (12), an electrical conductor (16) passing through the opening (12) and held in the opening (12) by a fixing material (14) in a manner electrically insulated from the body (10), wherein, The fixing material (14) closes the opening (12), wherein the electrical conductor (16) and the body (10) are metal components, and wherein, The entire surface of the electrical conductor (16) not covered by the fixing material (14) is provided with the first coating (20), the surface of the electrical conductor (16) covered by the fixing material (14) is not covered by the first coating (20), and the surface of the body (10) not covered by the fixing material (14) is not covered by the first coating (20) and is optionally provided with a second coating (30), the second coating (30) being different from the first coating (20), or The surface of the body (10) not covered by the fixing material (14) is fully provided with the first coating (20), the surface of the body (10) covered by the fixing material (14) is not covered by the first coating (20), and the surface of the electrical conductor (16) not covered by the fixing material (14) is not covered by the first coating (20) and is optionally provided with a second coating (30), the second coating (30) being different from the first coating (20). The first coating (20) is characterized in that it has one or more layers, and at least the outermost layer (22) of the first coating (20) is an electroless deposition layer of the first coating material.

2. The component (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness of the outermost layer (22) of the first coating (20) is independent of the geometry of the coated part, wherein the thickness of the outermost layer (22) of the first coating (20) is preferably constant throughout the coated surface.

3. The component (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The electrical conductor (16) provided with the first coating (20) or the body (10) provided with the first coating (20) is composed of a first metallic material that can be electrically coated with the first coating (20) material, or has an intermediate layer (24, 26) composed of the first metallic material that can be electrically coated with the first coating material.

4. The component (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first metallic material is selected from the group consisting of: Ag, Ag alloys, Cu, Cu alloys, Ni, Ni alloys free of surface oxides that cannot be coated with the first coating material, platinum group metals and platinum group metal alloys, Fe, steel free of surface oxides that cannot be coated with the first coating material, Co and Co alloys free of surface oxides that cannot be coated with the first coating material, Mn and Mn alloys free of surface oxides that cannot be coated with the first coating material, Zn, Zn alloys, Sn and Sn alloys.

5. The component (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The body (10) without the first coating (20) or the electrical conductor (16) without the first coating (20) is composed of a second metal material that cannot be coated with the first coating material without electricity, or the second coating (30) has an outermost layer composed of the second metal material that cannot be coated with the first coating material without electricity.

6. The component (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second metallic material is selected from the group consisting of: steel with surface oxides that cannot be coated with the first coating material, nickel alloys with surface oxides that cannot be coated with the first coating material, especially nickel alloys containing Mo, Cu and / or Cr, Ti, Mo, W, Al, Nb, Cr, Zr, Hf, V, Ta and their alloys.

7. The component (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The first coating material is selected from the group consisting of: nickel (NiP) containing a certain proportion of phosphorus, nickel (NiB) containing a certain proportion of boron, Ni, Cu, Ag, Sn, palladium (PdP) containing a certain proportion of phosphorus, Pd, Au.

8. The component (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The first coating (20) has exactly two layers, wherein the outermost layer (22) is electroless gold (Au) and the middle layer (24) is NiP.

9. The component (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The first coating (20) has exactly three layers, wherein the outermost layer (22) is electroless gold, the middle layer (24) is electroless NiP, and another middle layer (26) is palladium-phosphorus.

10. A method for manufacturing component (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the steps of: - Supply an electrical conductor (16) having a first metallic material or being composed of the first metallic material on its surface, and supply a body (10) having an opening (12) having a second metallic material or being composed of the second metallic material on its surface, or supply a body (10) having an opening (12) having a first metallic material or being composed of the first metallic material on its surface, and supply an electrical conductor (16) having a second metallic material or being composed of the second metallic material on its surface. - Supply of fixed material blanks, - Insert the electrical conductor (16) and the fixing material blank into the opening (12), - The electrical conductor (16) is embedded and a fixing material (14) is formed by temperature treatment to obtain an unfinished assembly. - By immersing the unfinished component in a coating solution, a first coating material layer is non-electrodeposited on the exposed surface of the electrical conductor (16) or on the exposed surface of the body (10). - Optionally, one or more additional layers may be electrodeposited on the electrical conductor (16) or on the body (10) by immersing the unfinished component in one or more additional coating solutions.