Exotic Materials
Amphenol Canada offers the standard line up of plating options but new applications can require new challenges to meet an ever-growing demand for interconnecting technologies. ACC can provide many exotic platings to meet your demanding applications.
AVAILABLE EXOTIC PLATINGS
- Nickel Teflon (Ni-Te)
- Zinc Nickel (ZnNi)
- Anodizing
- Selective Plating / Painting
NICKEL-TEFLON PLATING
PTFE as a solid lubricant disperses its PTFE particle uniformly over its Nickel Teflon film. It is a perfect self-lubricating film. When PTFE coated metal is rubbed against each other the PTFE particles disperse and spreads out thus reducing friction and prevents sticking. Nickel metal becomes the matrix which contains phosphorus so the film is hardened by the heat during heat treatment.
NICKEL-TEFLON (NI-PTFE) PLATING
Polytetrafluoroethylene also is known as PTFE. It is a high polymer chemical consisting of fluorine resin. More than 1 ethylene hydrogen atom is replaced by fluorine atom; PTFE is a polymer that has millions of macromolecules. It is heat resistant, oil resistant, and chemical resistant and is not affected by almost all solvents.
CHARACTERISTICS OF NICKEL-TEFLON
Nickel-Teflon plating is different from dipping because when the surface is worn out new PTFE particles appear. Nickel-Teflon plating maintains low friction co-efficiency so Nickel-Teflon has the following prominent characteristics.
ZINC NICKEL (ZnNi)
Zinc-Nickel electroplating is an acid coating that is used in the protection of steel, cast iron, malleable iron, copper, and brass. Zinc-Nickel is recognized as an environmentally safe alternative to cadmium electroplating. In specific applications, Zinc-Nickel demonstrates equivalent, or better, corrosion properties when compared to cadmium. Zinc-Nickel is normally applied for corrosion protection purposes, and functions as a "sacrificial coating", corroding before the base material. Zinc-Nickel can also replace cadmium in galvanic interaction applications where the coating is intended to minimize corrosion caused by the interaction of dissimilar metals. Chem Processing Inc. offers RoHS compliant clear, yellow and black post plate treatments for enhanced corrosion protection, specific torque-tension requirements, or color identification.
Zinc Nickel (ZnNi) is ideal as a RoHS complaint Cadmium replacement.
ANODIZING
What is Anodizing?
Anodizing is an electrochemical process that converts the metal surface into a decorative, durable, corrosion-resistant, anodic oxide finish. Aluminum is ideally suited to anodizing.
The anodic oxide structure originates from the aluminum substrate and is composed entirely of aluminum oxide. This aluminum oxide is not applied to the surface like paint or plating, but is fully integrated with the underlying aluminum substrate, so it cannot chip or peel. It has a highly ordered, porous structure that allows for secondary processes such as coloring and sealing.
Anodizing is accomplished by immersing the aluminum into an acid electrolyte bath and passing an electric current through the medium. A cathode is mounted to the inside of the anodizing tank; the aluminum acts as an anode so that oxygen ions are released from the electrolyte to combine with the aluminum atoms at the surface of the part being anodized. Anodizing is, therefore, a matter of highly controlled oxidation—the enhancement of a naturally occurring phenomenon.
SELECTIVE PLATING / PAINTING
An electrochemical process in which the base metal is masked, except the area to receive the plate, with a nonconductive material; the masked metal, with an electric current running through it, is then sprayed with a solution of plating metal which adheres only to the unmasked section.
Selective plating and painting can provide different surfaces on your connector for different applications and purposes whether it be for ESD, environmental conditions or general product protection, selective plating can add value to your product and reduce costs of your system