Connector materials & plating explained
The electrical reliability of a connector is determined by the materials and plating of its contact pins. Picking the wrong combination leads to corrosion, high contact resistance, or premature wear.
Common contact materials
- Brass — cost-effective, good conductivity, used for low-current applications
- Phosphor bronze — better spring properties, ideal for repeated mating cycles
- Beryllium copper — premium spring material, used in high-cycle and high-temperature applications
Common platings
- Gold over nickel — best corrosion resistance, low contact resistance, used in signal & data
- Tin over nickel — cheaper, used in power applications, not for frequent mating
- Silver — high conductivity, used in high-power, but tarnishes over time
IPC standards
Yiwei follows IPC-A-610 (acceptability of electronic assemblies) and IPC/WHMA-A-620 (cable & wire harness assemblies) for production and inspection. All products are RoHS and REACH compliant.
Contact us for material datasheets and certificates.