Silver-Plated Product With Controlled Crystal Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional silver-plated products for contact and terminal parts face issues with thermal resistance, bendability, and wear resistance, particularly when used in high-temperature environments or formed into complex shapes, leading to increased contact resistance and surface wear.
Innovation Solution
A silver-plated product with a surface layer of silver formed on a base material, where the full-width at half maximum of a rocking curve on a preferred orientation plane is between 2 to 8°, preferably 3 to 7°, and the preferred orientation plane is {200} or {111}, with a silver thickness of 10 μm or less, enhancing out-of-plane orientation and improving thermal resistance, bendability, and wear resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a silver plating film is formed on a copper base material, then corrosion resistance is improved, but copper diffusion occurs at high temperatures causing increased contact resistance
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediate layer is introduced between the silver plating film and the copper base material to prevent direct contact and copper diffusion. The intermediate layer acts as a barrier that stops copper atoms from migrating to the silver surface at high temperatures, thereby maintaining low contact resistance while preserving the corrosion resistance benefits of the silver plating.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite plating structure consisting of multiple layers (silver plating film + intermediate layer + copper base material). This composite structure combines the advantages of each material: silver provides corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity, while the intermediate layer prevents copper diffusion, resulting in a multi-functional coating system that overcomes the limitations of simple silver plating on copper.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the silver-plated product is worked into complicated shapes or small contact parts, then adaptability is improved, but cracks are formed exposing the base material
Solution Approach 1:
The plating film is designed as a thin, flexible coating that can accommodate complex shaping operations without cracking. The intermediate layer provides flexibility and stress relief, allowing the plated product to be formed into complicated shapes or small contact parts while maintaining surface integrity and preventing exposure of the base material.
3Quantity of substance
If a conventional silver plating film is used, then cost is reduced compared to gold plating, but the plating film is easily worn
Solution Approach 1:
The composite plating structure enhances wear resistance by distributing mechanical stresses across multiple layers. The intermediate layer provides a tougher substrate that supports the silver plating film, preventing it from being easily worn away. This maintains the cost advantage of using silver instead of gold while significantly improving durability and wear resistance.
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 described silver-plated product exhibits improved thermal resistance, bendability, and wear resistance, maintaining contact resistance below 5 mΩ after heat-proof testing and showing minimal abrasion loss, even after extensive sliding, thus addressing the limitations of conventional silver-plated products.
Implementation Method 1
a surface layer of silver which is formed on a base material
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a silver-plated product which has good thermal resistance, bendability and wear resistance. In a silver-plated product wherein a surface layer of silver having a thickness of 10 μm or less is formed on a base material of copper or a copper alloy, the full-width at half maximum of a rocking curve on a preferred orientation plane (preferably {200} or {111} plane) of the surface layer is caused to be 2 to 8°, preferably 3 to 7°, to improve the out-of-plane orientation of the surface layer to improve the thermal resistance, bendability and wear resistance of the silver-plated product.