For pin headers and female headers, I believe that almost everyone in the electronic components industry should know, because they can be seen in PCBs. How much do you know about its plating? Following let us explain the knowledge about plating.
The purpose of plating is to establish and maintain the stability of electrical properties. In order to achieve this purpose, the metal contact surface needs to be electroplated (tin-plated or gold-plated). Common metal coatings use electrolysis to form an anti-oxidation film that can mimic corrosion and improve wear resistance and conductivity.
Plating thickness of pin header and female header connector is usually determined by the electrical performance parameters, so how to verify the quality of plating? Generally, the following related tests will be done.
1. Visual inspection
The inspection method is mainly to look at the appearance of poorly plated contacts, such as surface scratches, extrusion deformation, different colors, foreign matter (dust, oil, crystals) attached to the surface, peeling of the plating layer, blisters, pits or particles, etc.
2. Film thickness test
The test method is to use a fluorescent plating thickness gauge or X-RAY film thickness tester to test whether the actual thickness of contacts meets the specification requirements.
3. Adhesion test
Poor adhesion of PIN pin plating is one of the common bad phenomena in electroplating. There are two detection methods: bending method and tape method.
4. Soldering ability test
Soldering ability detection method is to direct immersion tin and aging before soldering.
5. Corrosion resistance test
The test methods include salt spray test, nitric acid vapor test, hydrogen sulfide vapor test, sulfur dioxide vapor test and water vapor aging test. After the test, the contacts should not have oxidation and functional variation.
The above is all the plating quality test methods. Only products that pass strict tests can ensure service life and stability.
