Patent ID: 6360437
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: C25D,H01R,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for producing an electrical contact wherein said surface coating layer is a plated metal layer having hard coated particles said method comprising the steps of:preparing a metal blank by blanking a sheet of elastic metal plate, said metal blank comprising a carrier frame and a plurality of contact blanks extending from the carrier frame to their extending free ends in parallel with each other; preparing an electroplating bath containing a composite plating solution comprising an electroplating solution of a first metallic acid and hard conductive particles suspended therein; subjecting said blank to an electroplating process by use of said electroplating bath by holding the carrier above the composite plating solution so that the contact blanks are at least partially dipped in the composite plating solution, to thereby form a first plated layer of the first metal on a surface of a portion of each of the contact blanks dipped in the composite plating solution and, simultaneously, deposit said the hard conductive particles on said surface due to electro-deposition so that the hard conductive particles are dispersed in the first plated layer, said first plated layer has an outer surface with irregularity due to presence of the hard conductive particles dispersed therein; and separating each of said contact blanks from said carrier frame, after taking out and drying said blank from said electroplating bath, to provide said contact.