Electromechanical component with integrated lubrication and method for producing such an electromechanical component

Abstract

Method for producing an electromechanical component (100) with an integrated lubricant comprising the steps: - Providing a base body (110) of the electromechanical component (100) with a surface (111), - Generating a contact coating (130) on the surface (111) of the base body (110), wherein slit-shaped cracks (130) are formed in the contact coating (120), and - Formation of the lubricant (200) in the slit-shaped cracks (130) of the contact coating (120), characterized in that, for the formation of the lubricant (200) in the slit-shaped cracks (130) of the contact coating (120), a starting substance (210) for the formation of the lubricant (210) is arranged on the surface (121) of the contact coating (120) and / or in the slit-shaped cracks (130) of the contact coating (120), wherein the lubricant (200) is produced by a chemical reaction of the starting substance (210) with the material (124) of the contact coating (120).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electromechanical component with integrated lubrication, which is achieved by a lubricant arranged in slit-like cracks in a contact coating of the electromechanical component. The electromechanical component is, in particular, designed in the form of an electrical contact element. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such an electromechanical component with integrated lubrication.

[0002] Electromechanical components can be subjected to significant mechanical stress during normal use, causing wear on their surfaces. Such wear can impair the functionality of the electromechanical component and thus shorten its service life. This is particularly true for electromechanical components whose surfaces are coated with contact coatings. Examples include electrical contact elements, which are subjected to repeated insertion and removal cycles during normal use. The service life of such an electrical contact element is defined by the maximum number of insertion and removal cycles during which a reliable electrical connection can be established between the electrical contact element and its contact partner. Since electrical contact elements typically have an outer coating (silver, gold, etc.),Since contact coatings (copper, aluminum, etc.) serve as a contact layer to protect the underlying base material of the electromechanical component from oxidation, the service life of such an electrical contact is largely determined by the service life of this outer coating. Wear of this contact coating generally leads to an increase in contact resistance and unreliable contact behavior of the respective electromechanical component. In particular, contact coatings made of base metals are subject to fretting corrosion and thus increased wear. Another phenomenon that negatively affects the service life of contact coatings on electromechanical components is so-called cold welding. This occurs when a weld-like connection forms between the contact surfaces of two metallic components.Due to the strength of this connection, separating the two contact partners is usually associated with significant wear and tear on the contact surfaces.

[0003] To increase the service life of the electromechanical component, various lubricants can be applied to the contact coating. Since these lubricants are only applied superficially to the electromechanical component, they are usually wiped off after just a few insertion and removal cycles. Consequently, the protective effect of the lubricant is only present for a relatively short time.

[0004] EP 1 559 806 A1 describes a method for providing defined microcracks in a sliding surface formed by an iron-containing layer. These microcracks serve as oil retention volumes for a lubricant applied to the sliding surface. The iron-containing layer is produced by depositing an iron-containing material onto the surface of a workpiece. The microcracks are created by varying the process parameters during the deposition of the iron-containing layer or by subsequent thermal treatment of the iron-containing layer. A conventional lubricating oil for internal combustion engines, applied to the sliding surface of the iron-containing layer, serves as the lubricant.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a means of improving the load-bearing capacity of mechanically stressed outer surfaces of electromechanical components, such as electrical contact elements. This object is achieved by an electromechanical component according to claim 1. Furthermore, the object is achieved by a method for producing a corresponding electromechanical component according to claim 12. Further advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] According to the invention, a method for producing an electromechanical component with an integrated lubricant is provided, in which, in a first step, a base body of the electromechanical component with a surface is provided. In a subsequent step, a contact coating is produced on the surface of the base body, wherein crack-like fissures are formed in the contact coating. Subsequently, a lubricant is formed in the crack-like fissures of the contact coating. While with a lubricant applied only superficially, insufficient lubrication of the surfaces in the relevant contact areas is present after only a few mechanical contact cycles, permanent lubrication of the electromechanical component can be achieved with the help of the lubricant embedded in the contact coating.The lubricant reduces friction at the relevant contact surfaces of the electromechanical component. This effectively prevents abrasive wear of the surfaces in the respective contact areas. Furthermore, the lubricant also prevents cold welding effects. By placing the lubricant in the crack-like crevices, which serve as reservoirs, continuous lubrication of the relevant contact surfaces can be achieved.

[0007] In one embodiment, the contact coating is produced by depositing a material onto the surface of the base body using a galvanic, physical, and / or chemical deposition process. These processes make the contact coating particularly easy to produce.

[0008] In a further embodiment, the parameters of the deposition process are selected solely to create a contact coating with intrinsic tensile stress. The cleft-shaped cracks are then generated by reducing these intrinsic tensile stresses within the contact coating. This method allows for the particularly simple creation of cleft-shaped cracks within the contact coating. By varying the parameters of the deposition process, the dimensions of the cleft-shaped cracks can be adapted to specific requirements. In particular, this method enables the creation of very narrow cleft-shaped cracks with gap widths in the range of 1 to 200 nm. Such small gap widths prevent corrosion and the diffusion of corrosive substances into the contact coating.

[0009] In a further embodiment, the contact coating is produced by depositing a material containing a volatile substance. The slit-like cracks in the contact coating are created by the outgassing of the volatile substance from the coating. This method makes it particularly easy to create very fine, slit-like cracks within the contact coating.

[0010] In a further embodiment, the cleft-shaped cracks in the contact coating are at least partially generated by a thermal treatment of the contact coating and / or the electromechanical component, or by a mechanical treatment of the contact coating and / or the electromechanical component, in particular by a rolling and / or bending process. With the aid of a thermal treatment, which is essentially based on heating and / or cooling the contact coating or the electromechanical component, the desired cleft-shaped cracks can be generated relatively easily by utilizing the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials involved. The mechanical treatment of the contact coating or the electromechanical component also represents a particularly simple process for generating cracks within the contact coating.

[0011] In a further embodiment, the lubricant is formed in the cleft-shaped cracks by a process in which a liquid lubricant is applied to the surface of the contact coating, the lubricant penetrating the clefts due to capillary action. This process represents a particularly simple manufacturing method. Furthermore, the formation of the lubricant in the clefts can also be achieved by immersing the contact coating in a liquid lubricant or in a dispersion containing the lubricant in solid form. This method facilitates the penetration of the lubricant into the clefts. Finally, the formation of the lubricant in the clefts can also be achieved by introducing the lubricant into the clefts of the contact coating using a calendering process.The pressure generated in this process allows even less fluid lubricants to be introduced into the crack-like fissures. Finally, the contact coating can also be exposed to a gaseous atmosphere containing the lubricant to facilitate lubricant formation. This method enables particularly deep penetration of the lubricant into the crack-like fissures.

[0012] According to the invention, a precursor substance for lubricant formation is arranged on the surface of the contact coating and / or in the cracks of the contact coating to form the lubricant, wherein the lubricant is produced by a reaction of the precursor substance with the material of the contact coating. This method ensures that the lubricant is produced across the entire surface of the electromechanical component.

[0013] In a further embodiment, the contact coating is exposed to a gas atmosphere containing the starting substance for lubricant formation in gaseous form. The use of a gaseous starting substance ensures that the lubricant is generated even in the finest cracks of the contact coating.

[0014] In a further embodiment, the contact coating is produced from a silver-containing material, and a sulfur-containing substance is used as the starting material. Silver sulfide is produced by a reaction of the sulfur-containing substance with the silver material. This creates a lubricant in a particularly simple way, which is especially well suited for lubricating the contact surfaces of the electromechanical component.

[0015] In a further embodiment, the formation of the lubricant in the crack-like fissures is carried out in a vacuum chamber with reduced gas pressure. The reduced gas pressure facilitates the diffusion out of gases that are present in the crack-like fissures at the beginning of the process. This facilitates the penetration of the lubricant into the crack-like fissures.

[0016] In a further embodiment, an intermediate layer is created between the contact coating and the base body. This intermediate layer serves as a barrier against the cracks propagating in the contact coating, the lubricant formed in the cracks, and / or any starting material used to form the lubricant in the cracks. Such an intermediate layer ensures that the cracks, the lubricant, and substances associated with the lubricant do not propagate into the underlying base body. This increases the service life of the electromechanical component.

[0017] According to another aspect, an electromechanical component with an integrated lubricant is provided, comprising a base body, a contact coating formed on a surface of the base body, crack-like fissures in the contact coating, and the lubricant located in these crack-like fissures. Due to the lubricant present in the crack-like fissures, such an electromechanical component provides permanent lubrication of its contact surfaces. This significantly increases the service life of the respective contact surfaces and thus also of the electromechanical component itself.

[0018] In one embodiment, the slit-shaped cracks preferably have slit widths in the range of 1 to 200 nm, and particularly in the range of 5 to 10 nm. Such small slit widths prevent the penetration of corrosive substances and thus corrosion of the contact coating and the underlying substrate.

[0019] In a further embodiment, the contact coating is made of a silver-containing material, and the lubricant is silver sulfide. Since silver is a commonly used material for contact coatings, the use of silver sulfide as a lubricant is a particularly suitable form of lubrication for the electromechanical component. Because silver sulfide is typically constantly regenerated during operation of the electromechanical component through a reaction of silver with sulfur-containing gases in the atmosphere, this ensures continuous lubrication of the electromechanical component.

[0020] In a further embodiment, an intermediate layer is arranged between the contact coating and the base body of the electromechanical component. This intermediate layer serves as a barrier layer to prevent the propagation of cracks and / or as a barrier layer to substances penetrating through the cracks to the base body. This effectively prevents both the formation of cracks and corrosion caused by penetrating substances in the base body. As a result, the service life of the electromechanical component is increased.

[0021] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to figures. These figures show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of two electromechanical components designed in the form of electrical contacts; Fig. 2 schematically a cross-sectional representation of one of the electromechanical components from Fig. 1; Fig. 3 schematically a detailed representation of the electromechanical component made of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 schematically an alternative design of the leg-mechanical component made of Fig. 2 with an intermediate layer; Fig. 5 schematically a blank for the mechanical component made of Fig. 2 serving base body before the production of the contact coating; Fig. 6 schematically a deposition process in which a contact coating is created on the base body; Fig. 7 schematically the contact coating formed on the base body with intrinsic voltage; Fig. 8 schematically the formation of stress cracks in the contact coating; Fig. 9 schematically the contact coating with fully formed stress cracks; Fig. 10 schematically a top view of the surface of the contact coating made of Fig. 9 with the slit-shaped stress cracks; Fig. 11 schematically illustrates a process for generating slit-shaped cracks in the contact coating by evaporating a volatile substance; Fig. 12 schematically illustrates a thermal process for generating slit-shaped cracks in the contact coating; Fig. 13 schematically a mechanical process for generating slit-shaped cracks in the contact coating; Fig. 14 a microscopic image of slit-shaped cracks produced in the contact coating by means of a mechanical bending process; Fig. 15 a microscopic image of slit-shaped cracks produced by outgassing of hydrogen from the contact coating; Fig. 16 schematically a process for forming the lubricant in the crack-shaped fissures by immersing the electromechanical component in suitable liquid; Fig. 17 schematically a process for forming the lubricant in the crack-shaped fissures using a roller; Fig. 18 schematically a process for forming the lubricant in the slit-shaped cracks using a spray device, Fig. 19 schematically a process for forming the lubricant in the crack-like fissures by exposing the electromechanical component to a suitable gas atmosphere; and Fig. 20 schematically illustrates a process for forming the lubricant in the crack-shaped fissures in a suitable gas atmosphere using a vacuum chamber.

[0022] The concept described below aims to increase the service life of electromechanical components. Fig. Figure 1 shows such an electromechanical component 100, which in the present example is designed in the form of an electrical contact element for establishing an electrical connection with a complementary electrical contact element 300.

[0023] The electromechanical component 100, which in this example is designed as an elongated conductor structure with a substantially rectangular cross-section, is inserted to establish an electrical contact between two legs 310, 320 of the clamp-shaped contact partner 300. Arrow 105 illustrates one possible insertion direction. As shown in the Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the electromechanical component 100 has a contact surface 103, 104 on both its upper surface 101 and its lower surface 102, which, during intended use, come into contact with corresponding contact surfaces 311, 321 of the contact partner 300. To reduce the friction occurring between the contact surfaces 103, 104, 311, 321 during insertion and removal, the electromechanical component 100 is provided with permanent lubrication. Such permanent lubrication is achieved by integrating a suitable lubricant into the outer layer of the electromechanical component 100. Depending on the application, this permanent lubrication can cover the entire surface 121 of the electromechanical component 100 or be limited to specific areas of the surface 121.In the present embodiment, permanent lubrication is provided only on the upper and lower surfaces 101, 102 of the electromechanical component 100. The lubricating contact coating 120 can be located, as shown here, on the connector side, i.e., on the electromechanical component 100. Additionally or alternatively, a lubricating contact coating can also be provided on the socket side, i.e., on the contact partner 300. The Fig. Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the electromagnetic component 100 made of Fig. 1. The electromagnetic component 100 consists of a base body 110 and a contact coating 120 arranged on the base body 100. The base body 110 preferably consists of a metallic material, for example, copper or a metallic alloy. The contact coating 120 is also preferably made of a metallic material, for example, silver, gold, nickel, tin, or another suitable metal. Furthermore, the contact coating can also consist of an alloy of the aforementioned metals, which contains, for example, antimony, palladium, tungsten, nickel, copper, iron, platinum, titanium, molybdenum, carbide, rhenium, or another suitable metal.

[0024] As in the Fig. As indicated by a darker hatching in Figure 2, the contact coating 120 on the upper and lower surfaces 103, 104 of the electromechanical component 100 has integrated lubrication, which is in the form of a lubricant embedded in the contact coating 120. This is shown in Figure 2. Fig. 3 schematically a detailed representation of the electromechanical component 100 from Fig. 2. It can be seen that the contact coating 120 formed on the surface 111 of the base body 110 has a multitude of microscopically small, slit-like cracks 130 in which a lubricant 200 is arranged for lubricating the surface 121 of the contact coating 120. Due to the lubricant being arranged in the slit-like cracks 130, which serve as reservoirs, a small amount of the lubricant 200 is always released from the slit-like cracks 130 when the contact coating 120 is subjected to mechanical stress and relative movement, thus lubricating the surface 121 of the contact coating 120.

[0025] The manufacturing process of the cleavage-shaped cracks 130 is controlled such that the cracks have a very narrow width, preferably in the submicrometer range. Typical crack widths of the cleavage-shaped cracks 130 are in the range of 1 to 200 nm, and preferably in the range of 5 to 10 nm. This prevents corrosion and diffusion of corrosive substances into the contact coating 120. The cleavage-shaped cracks 130 have depths on the order of the thickness of the contact coating 120, for example, 0.5 to 50 µm, and preferably in the range of 1 to 3 µm.

[0026] Depending on the application, the base body 110 may also contain a multi-layered stack with at least one intermediate layer 150 arranged between the base body 110 and the contact coating 120. Fig. Figure 4 shows a corresponding embodiment with a single intermediate layer 150. Such an intermediate layer 150, which is preferably made of a tough material (e.g. gold, nickel, silver, palladium, etc.), can serve as a barrier layer that prevents both the propagation of the cleft-shaped cracks into the base body 110 and the penetration of the lubricant 200 or other substances to the base body 110.

[0027] The following section describes a possible manufacturing process for the electromechanical component 100 shown above, illustrated with figures. In a first process step, a blank 110 for the electromechanical component 100 is provided. This is typically done using suitable metalworking processes in which the base body is produced by forming and machining. This process step is shown in the Fig. 5 shown.

[0028] In a subsequent process step, the contact coating 120 is produced on the surface 111 of the base body 110 by depositing a suitable material. In principle, any suitable method can be used for this purpose, such as electroplating, physical vapor deposition (PVD), or chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Fig. Figure 6 shows the deposition of material 124 to produce the contact coating 120, indicated by arrows.

[0029] The deposition of material 124 continues until the contact coating 120 has been deposited to the desired layer thickness. The layer thickness depends on the specific application and is, for example, 50 µm. To promote the formation of the desired cleft-shaped cracks within the contact coating 120, the contact coating 120 is preferably produced under intrinsic tensile stress. Fig. Figure 7, which shows the finished contact coating 120, indicates the intrinsic tensile stress with arrow 126. The desired intrinsic tensile stress can be achieved by appropriately adjusting the parameters of the deposition process. Among other things, a deposition temperature, substrate temperature, and deposition rate that deviate from an optimal value can cause corresponding stress states within the contact coating 120. The composition of the deposited material also influences the formation of corresponding stress states within the contact coating 120.

[0030] The one in Fig. As shown in Figure 8, the intrinsic tensile stresses 126 within the contact coating 120 lead to the formation of cracks 130, which typically extend in a cleft-like manner from the surface 121 into the contact coating 120. Fig. Figure 9 shows the contact coating 120 with fully formed slit-shaped cracks 130. As can be seen here, the depths of the slit-shaped cracks 130 are preferably in the range of the thickness of the contact coating 120. However, depending on the application, different depths can be provided. For example, the slit-shaped cracks 130 reach depths of 0.5 to 50 µm and preferably in the range of 1 to 3 µm.

[0031] The cracks 130 typically generated within the contact coating 120 by the reduction of intrinsic tensile stresses 126 also propagate laterally within the contact coating 120. From the Fig. Figure 10, which shows a top view of a region of the surface 121 of the contact coating 120, shows that the cracks 130 typically form cleft-shaped fractures, each running crisscrossing the surface 121 of the contact coating 120 and being distributed approximately uniformly. The cleft-shaped cracks 130 preferably have small gap widths to prevent the penetration of corrosive substances to the underlying substrate 110. Typical gap widths of the cracks 130 are in the range of 1 to 200 nm and preferably 5 to 10 nm.

[0032] As explained above, crack formation within the contact coating 120 can be initiated or promoted in various ways. In the Fig. Figure 11 illustrates, by way of example, the formation of cracks 130 by the outgassing of a volatile substance 125 from the contact coating 120, which is incorporated into the material of the contact coating 120. Hydrogen (H) is a possible volatile substance, which may have been incorporated into the contact coating 120 from the gas phase during physical or chemical vapor deposition. The outgassing of the volatile substance 125 creates vacancies in the metallic crystal lattice of the contact coating 120, which lead to intrinsic tensile stresses 126 within the contact coating 120 and consequently to crack formation.

[0033] In the Fig. Figure 12 describes a thermal process by which the formation of crack-like fissures 130 within the contact coating 120 is achieved or promoted by the supply of heat energy 450. Such a heat treatment can also exploit the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials of the base body 110 and the contact coating 120. In principle, the thermal treatment described here can affect both the contact coating 120 and the base body 110. Alternatively or additionally to the supply of heat (heating), the heat treatment can also include cooling of the contact coating 120 and / or the base body 110 in order to achieve the desired crack formation within the contact coating 120.

[0034] In the Fig. Figure 13 illustrates a mechanical process in which the electromechanical component 100 is mechanically processed by means of a roller 400 to generate the cleft-shaped cracks 130 within the contact coating 120. In the present example, the roller 400 is rolled over the surface 121 of the contact coating 120 with a defined pressure in the direction indicated by the arrow 402 by a rotary motion 401. In addition to such a rolling process, other mechanical processes can also be used to initiate or promote crack formation within the contact coating 120, e.g., bending, stretching, upsetting, or hammering of the electromechanical component 100.

[0035] In the Fig. 14 and Fig. Figure 15 shows microscopic images of the surfaces of two contact coatings with slit-like cracks, produced using different methods. In both cases, the surfaces are magnified approximately 4000 times. The Fig. 14 the surface 121 of a contact coating 120, which was subjected to a bending process to induce cracking. The bending produced cleft-shaped cracks 130 in the contact coating 120, which mainly run parallel to each other. In contrast, the Fig. 15 the surface 121 of a contact coating 120, whose cleft-like cracks 120 were formed by outgassing of hydrogen. In this case, the cleft-like cracks 130 run crisscrossing the surface 121 of the contact coating 120 without a preferred direction. As the examples from the Fig. 14 and Fig. As demonstrated in Figure 15, the number, shape, course and distribution of the cleft-shaped cracks 130 on the surface 121 of the contact coating 120 can be influenced in the desired way by selecting the manufacturing process and varying the process parameters.

[0036] A significant advantage of the mechanical treatment of the contact coating 120 to initiate or promote crack formation is that this treatment can be applied very locally, and the cracks 130 are therefore only generated in the treated areas. This ensures that no or at least fewer cracks 130 form outside the contact surfaces of the electromechanical component 100, and that the contact coating 120 is not unnecessarily weakened by cracking in these areas.

[0037] After creating the crack-like fissures 130 in the desired areas of the contact coating 120, a lubricant 200 is formed in the fissures 130 in a subsequent process step. Various methods can be used for this purpose. In the Fig. Figure 16 shows a method in which the electromechanical component 100 is immersed in a container 410 with a liquid 230 containing the lubricant 200. The liquid 230 can be either a liquid lubricant 200 or a dispersion in which a solid lubricant 200 is present in the form of particles in a solvent. To enable the lubricant 200 to penetrate as deeply as possible into the cracks 130 of the contact coating 120, it is advantageous to use a liquid 230 with the highest possible penetrating ability. In the case of a dispersion with a solid lubricant 200, it is also advantageous to select a particle size of the solid lubricant 200 that is significantly smaller than the crack widths 130.

[0038] In principle, the formation of the lubricant 200 in the crack-like fissures 130 can also be achieved by simply applying a suitable liquid to the contact coating 120. The liquid can be either a liquid lubricant 200 or a dispersion containing the lubricant 200 in solid form. The following shows this. Fig. 17 A corresponding method in which the lubricant 200 is applied in liquid form to the surface 121 of the contact coating 120 and driven into the slit-like cracks 130 of the contact coating 120 by means of a roller 400. The so-called calendering process can be used as a method, which is used, for example, for coating the surfaces of film-like structures. A corresponding calendering device usually contains a combination of several polishing and heated rollers to distribute the liquid substance on the surface or drive it into the surface by applying a defined pressure.

[0039] The application of the liquid lubricant 200 or a dispersion containing particles of a solid lubricant 200 to the surface 121 of the contact coating 120 can be carried out, for example, using a spray device 440, which is located in the Fig. Figure 18 shows an example. The liquid lubricant 200 can be distributed onto the contact coating surface 121 via one or more spray nozzles 441.

[0040] As an alternative to applying a liquid to the contact coating 120, the formation of the lubricant 200 in the crack-like fissures 130 can also be achieved using a suitable gas atmosphere. This is shown in the Fig. 19. By way of example, the electromechanical component 100 is arranged in a chamber 430. The chamber 200 contains a defined gas atmosphere 220, the composition of which can be adjusted by supplying at least one gaseous substance 210 via a gas supply 431. In the present example, a starting substance 210 is supplied in gaseous form to form the lubricant 200, which subsequently deposits on the surface 121 of the contact coating 120 and on the inner walls of the crack-like fissures 130. The starting substance 210 is preferably a reactive substance that reacts chemically with the material of the contact coating 120, thereby forming the lubricant 200. If the contact coating 120 consists of metallic silver or another silver-containing material, a sulfur-containing gas can be used as the starting substance 210.The sulfur-containing starting material 210 reacts with the silver of the contact coating 120 to form silver sulfide, which serves as lubricant 200. Due to the diffusion of the gaseous starting material 210, the crack-like fissures 130 are also filled with the lubricant 200.

[0041] To facilitate the penetration of the gaseous starting material 210 into the crack-like fissures 130, the formation of the contact coating in a gaseous environment can also take place under reduced pressure. This is shown in the Fig. 20 A vacuum device 420 with a vacuum chamber 421 in which the electromechanical component 100 is arranged. A vacuum pump 422 connected to the vacuum chamber generates a negative pressure in the vacuum chamber 421. By supplying a gaseous starting substance 210, a vacuum gas atmosphere 220 with a defined partial pressure of the starting substance 210 is established in the vacuum chamber 421. Due to the reduced pressure within the vacuum chamber 421, previously present gas molecules are largely removed from the slit-like cracks 130. As a result, the molecules of the gaseous starting substance 210 can diffuse relatively easily into the slit-like cracks 130.

[0042] As an alternative to using a gaseous starting substance 210, the following can be used in the Fig. 17 and Fig.The processes shown in Figure 18 can, in principle, also use several gaseous starting substances which, through a common reaction, form a suitable lubricant 200. Furthermore, in the cases described, a lubricant 200 in gaseous form can also be used.

[0043] The formation of the lubricant 200 in the cleft-shaped cracks 130 of the contact coating 120 can also take place during the formation of the cleft-shaped cracks 130. For this purpose, the contact coating is exposed to a suitable lubricant 200 or to a starting substance 210 that forms the lubricant 200, and then the process for the formation of the cleft-shaped cracks 130 in the contact coating 120 is carried out.

[0044] In principle, all suitable substances that are stable under the conditions typical for the respective application can be used as lubricants 200. These include not only inorganic substances (e.g., silver sulfide, molybdenum disulfide, carbon-based lubricants (e.g., graphite), etc.) but also organic substances (e.g., polyalphaolefins, organic acids, thiols, etc.).

[0045] Although the invention has been further illustrated and described by the preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples. Rather, other variations and combinations of features can be derived from them by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. Reference symbol list 100 electromechanical components 101 Top side of the electromechanical component 102 Underside of the electromechanical component 103, 104 contact surfaces 105 Insertion direction 110 Basic body of the electromechanical component 111 Surface area of ​​the base body 112 Top side of the base body 113 Underside of the base body 120 Contact coating 121 Surface of the contact coating 124 Contact coating material 125 volatile substance 126 mechanical stress in the contact coating 130 slit-shaped cracks 150 Intermediate shift 151 Surface of the intermediate layer 200 lubricants 210 starting substance 220 Gas atmosphere 230 the lubricant-containing liquid 300 contact partners 310 first contact leg 311 Contact area of ​​the first contact leg 320 second contact leg 321 Contact area of ​​the second contact leg 400 roller 401 Direction of rotation of the roller 402 Direction of movement of the roller 410 containers 420 Vacuum device 421 Vacuum chamber 422 Vacuum pump 430 Chamber 431 Gas supply 440 Spray device 441 Nozzle 450 Heat / Cold

Claims

[1] Method for producing an electromechanical component (100) with an integrated lubricant comprising the steps: - Providing a base body (110) of the electromechanical component (100) with a surface (111), - Generating a contact coating (130) on the surface (111) of the base body (110), wherein slit-shaped cracks (130) are formed in the contact coating (120), and - Formation of the lubricant (200) in the slit-shaped cracks (130) of the contact coating (120), characterized by, that to form the lubricant (200) in the slit-shaped cracks (130) of the contact coating (120) a starting substance (210) for the formation of the lubricant (210) is arranged on the surface (121) of the contact coating (120) and / or in the slit-shaped cracks (130) of the contact coating (120), wherein the lubricant (200) is produced by a chemical reaction of the starting substance (210) with the material (124) of the contact coating (120). [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the contact coating (120) is produced by depositing a material (124) on the surface (111) of the base body (110) using a galvanic, physical and / or chemical deposition process. [3] Method according to claim 2, wherein the parameters of the deposition process are chosen such that the contact coating (120) is produced with an intrinsic tensile stress (126), and where the cleft-shaped cracks (130) are generated by a reduction of the intrinsic tensile stress (126) within the contact coating (120). [4] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact coating (120) is produced by cutting off a material (124) containing a volatile substance (125), and wherein the slit-shaped cracks (130) in the contact coating (120) are at least partially produced by outgassing of the volatile substance (125) from the contact coating (120). [5] Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the slit-shaped cracks (130) in the contact coating (120) are at least partially produced by: - a thermal treatment of the contact coating (120) and / or the electromechanical component (100), and / or - a mechanical treatment of the contact coating (120) and / or the electromechanical component (100), in particular by a rolling and / or bending process. [6] Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lubricant (200) is formed in the slit-shaped cracks (122) by at least one of the following processes: - Applying the lubricant (200) in liquid form to the surface (121) of the contact coating (120), wherein the lubricant (200) penetrates the slit-shaped cracks (123) due to capillary action; - Immersion of the contact coating (120) in a liquid lubricant (200) or in a dispersion (230) containing the lubricant (200) in solid form; - Introducing the lubricant (200) into the slit-shaped cracks (123) of the contact coating (120) using a calendering process; and -Exposure of the contact coating (120) to a gas atmosphere (240) containing the lubricant (200) in gaseous form. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact coating (120) is exposed to a gas atmosphere (240) containing the starting substance (210) for the formation of the lubricant (200) in gaseous form. [8] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact coating (120) is produced from a silver-containing material, and wherein a sulfur-containing substance is used as the starting material (210). [9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the formation of the lubricant (200) in the slit-shaped cracks (130) takes place in a vacuum chamber (421) having a reduced gas pressure. [10] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an intermediate layer (150) is created between the contact coating (120) and the base body (110), and where the intermediate layer (150) serves as a barrier layer for: - the slit-shaped cracks (130) spreading in the contact coating (120), - the lubricant (200) formed in the slit-like cracks (130), and / or - a starting substance (210) used to form the lubricant (200) in the cleft-shaped cracks (130) . [11] Electromechanical component (100) comprising an integrated lubricant (200): - a basic body (110), - a contact coating (120) formed on a surface (111) of the base body (110), - crack-shaped cracks (130) formed in the contact coating (120), and - the lubricant (200) arranged in the slit-shaped cracks (130), characterized by, that the lubricant (200) consists of a product of a chemical reaction between a starting substance (210) arranged on the surface (121) of the contact coating (120) and / or in the cleft-shaped cracks (130) of the contact coating (120) and the material (124) of the contact coating (120). [12] Electromechanical component (100) according to claim 11, wherein the slit-shaped cracks (130) preferably have slit widths in the range of 1 to 200 nm and particularly in the range of 5 to 10 nm. [13] Electromechanical component (100) according to one of claims 11 or 12, wherein the contact coating (120) is formed from a silver-containing material, and wherein the lubricant (200) is formed from silver sulfide. [14] Electromechanical component (100) according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein an intermediate layer (150) is arranged between the contact coating (120) and the base body (110) of the electromechanical component (100), which serves as a barrier layer for the propagation of the slit-shaped cracks (130) and / or as a barrier layer for substances penetrating through the slit-shaped cracks (130) to the base body (110).

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