Composite Electrode with Reducing Agent for Oxide Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric contacts experience increased contact resistance due to oxidation and wear from repeated micro sliding, leading to malfunction in electronic devices, especially when gold plating is worn off, and existing solutions with lubricant-filled microcapsules or fluorine compounds do not adequately address these issues.
Innovation Solution
A composite material with a metal matrix and a reducing agent dispersed within, capable of reducing metal oxides at room temperature, which prevents oxidation and extends sliding life by maintaining conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the outermost surface of the electrode is plated with gold, then oxidation resistance is improved, but cost increases and the gold plating film may be worn away over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite plating by dispersing microcapsules containing lubricant and reducing agent within the gold plating layer. This creates a multi-functional composite structure where the gold provides oxidation resistance, while the embedded microcapsules provide wear protection and active reduction of metal oxides, resolving the contradiction between oxidation resistance and wear resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The microcapsules act as intermediaries that release lubricant and reducing agents at the contact interface. These intermediaries actively reduce metal oxides formed during sliding and provide lubrication, preventing both oxidation and wear without requiring thick gold plating
2Duration of action of moving object
If the thickness of the gold plating film is increased, then sliding life is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the functional parameters of the plating by incorporating microcapsules with specific size distributions (0.1-10 μm) containing lubricant and reducing agents. This transforms the gold plating from a passive protective layer to an active system that reduces oxides and provides lubrication, extending sliding life without increasing gold thickness
Solution Approach 2:
By creating a composite plating structure with gold matrix and dispersed microcapsules, the patent achieves enhanced sliding life through the synergistic effects of gold's oxidation resistance, lubricant's friction reduction, and reducing agent's oxide removal, eliminating the need for increased gold quantity
3Strength
If lubricant-filled microcapsules are dispersed in metal matrix, then wear resistance is improved, but oxidation resistance is not provided and contact resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges three distinct functions into a single composite plating layer: gold provides oxidation resistance, lubricant-filled microcapsules provide wear resistance, and reducing agent-filled microcapsules provide active oxide reduction. This combination resolves the contradiction by ensuring both wear and oxidation protection occur simultaneously
4Reliability
If a reducing agent is dispersed in the metal matrix, then oxidation resistance is improved, but the reducing agent may affect electrical conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The reducing agent is localized within microcapsules distributed throughout the gold matrix rather than being uniformly mixed. This local containment ensures the reducing agent only acts at contact interfaces where oxides form, while the bulk gold matrix maintains its excellent electrical conductivity
Solution Approach 2:
The microcapsules serve as intermediaries that isolate the reducing agent from the bulk metal matrix while enabling its function at the contact surface. This intermediary structure allows the reducing agent to reduce oxides without compromising the overall electrical conductivity of the plating layer
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composite material effectively restricts the increase in contact resistance and enhances the reliability and lifespan of electric contacts by continuously reducing metal oxides formed during micro sliding, even when gold plating is worn off.
Implementation Method 1
a reducing agent dispersed in the metal matrix and being capable of reducing an oxide of the metal at room temperature
Implementation Method 2
the reducing agent reduces the oxide of the metal to the metal
Data Source
AI summary
A composite material includes a metal matrix of a metal and a reducing agent. The reducing agent is dispersed in the metal matrix and is capable of reducing an oxide of the metal at room temperature. Even when the oxide of the metal is generated on a surface of the composite material, the reducing agent reduces the oxide of the metal to the metal