Plating Electrical Contacts with Rhodium is a top choice for a final finish for critical component manufacturers. Rhodium is an extraordinarily rare, silvery-white, hard, corrosion-resistant, and chemically inert transition metal. Since Rhodium is one of the hardest and most resilient metals to corrosion and wear, there is a high demand for it in the plating industry. In addition, Rhodium is often used as a final finish to make an oxidation-resistant layer that can stand against high temperatures. Some examples of parts plated with Rhodium are high-temperature thermocouple and resistance wires, electrodes for aircraft spark plugs, bearings, and electrical contacts. Electroplated Rhodium is unaffected by air and water up to 1,112 degrees Fahrenheit. Rhodium electroplating is also resilient to acids including nitric, hydrochloric, and sulfuric acid at very high concentrations.
Color and Thickness of Rhodium Plating on Sliding Electrical Contacts and Connectors
Rhodium Plating generally has a light to dark gray appearance. Currently, at ProPlate®, we have two variations of Rhodium plating for a light and dark appearance based on our customer’s specific requests. Rhodium plating will last for years, depending on the thickness you choose to have your parts plated with. 30 to 50 microinches is a common thickness of plated rhodium to offer wear protection on sliding electrical contacts and connectors. Rivet contact plating, battery contact plating, and hermetic seal plating are also common requests for Rhodium plating. For more information on hermetic seal plating, follow this link, https://proplate.com/hermetic-seal-feedthrough-connectors/.
MIL-R-46085 Rhodium Plating, Electrodeposited, and ASTM B 634-88 (Reapproved 1999) Standard Specification for Electrodeposited Coatings of Rhodium for Engineering Use.
| Electrical properties | |
| Electrical Type | Conductor |
| Electrical Conductivity | 2.3×107 S/m |
| Resistivity | 4.300000000003×10-8 m Ω |
Applications:
- Electrical contact plating
- Rivet contact plating
- Battery contact plating
- Hermetic seal plating
- Connector plating
- Sliding electrical contacts plating
- High wear electrical contacts plating
Key Benefits:
- Mechanical Wear Resistance
- Electrical conductivity
- Chemical resistance
- Corrosion Resistance
For more information about Rhodium plating, sliding electrical contacts,and connectors, call ProPlate® at 763-427-0112 or Request a Quote
