Patent ID: 6755958
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: C23C,H01R,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of treating a copper electrical contact member to enhance performance of the member over time with respect to its electrical contact resistance, comprising:providing an electrical contact member made of copper or a copper alloy, the member having a contact surface; electroplating a barrier layer on the contact surface, wherein the barrier layer is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, cobalt-nickel alloys, cobalt-tungsten alloys, and cobalt-nickel-tungsten alloys; forming the barrier layer to a thickness in the range of from about 0.00001 inch to about 0.0001 inch, and which thickness is sufficient to prevent the electrical contact resistance of the treated contact member from increasing above a given limit over a given period of time at a given temperature; and coating an outer finish layer over the barrier layer, wherein the finish layer is selected from the group consisting of tin, gold, palladium, platinum, silver, and alloys thereof, so that the given limit of electrical contact resistance of the treated contact member is about 10 milliohms at 100 grams contact force, the given period of time is at least 1000 hours, and the given temperature is at least 150 degrees C.