Method of reducing corrosion of silver containing surfaces

• US 20060246313A1
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Harrington, Charles R., Aukland, Neil R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,575,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/621
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 9/06 by anodic processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12535 with additional, spatially distinct nonmetal component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12896 Ag-base component

Abstract

Described is a method of reducing corrosion of a silver-containing surface comprising electro-depositing a layer of an iodine-containing material on said silver surface at a charge density of about 80 mA*s (milliamps second)/cm²) or less. Also described is an electrical contact also produced by the method.

Claims

1. A method of reducing corrosion of a silver-containing surface comprising electro-depositing a layer of an iodine-containing material on said silver surface at a charge density of about 80 mA*s (milliamp second)/cm² or less.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said iodine-containing material is formed from an aqueous iodine solution having an iodide ion concentration of about 0.05 g/L to about 5 g/L.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said aqueous iodide solution is subjected to a total charge deposit at or below about 40 mA*s/cm².

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said iodine-containing material comprises a contact resistance of about 10 mΩ

(milliohms) or less at 1N contact force after exposure to temperatures below about 200°

C.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said iodine-containing material comprises a contact resistance of about 100 mΩ

(milliohms) or less at 1N contact force after exposure to temperatures below about 200°

C.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said iodine-containing material comprises a light gray color.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the iodine-containing material comprises a thickness of at least covering the surface of said silver surface.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the iodine containing material is KI in an aqueous solution electro-deposited onto a silver containing substrate.

9. An electrical contact comprising:

a base material;

a silver-containing material coated on said base material; and

an iodine-containing material electro-deposited on said silver-containing material, wherein said iodine-containing material reduces corrosion of said silver-containing material and wherein the electrical contact has a contact resistance at 1N contact force of about 100 mΩ

(milliohms) or less after exposure to temperatures of about 200°

C. or less.

10. The electrical contact of claim 9 wherein said iodine-containing material is formed from an aqueous iodine solution comprising an iodide ion concentration of about 0.05 g/L to about 5.0 g/L.

11. The electrical contact of claim 9 wherein said iodine-containing material is formed using a charge density of about 80 mA*s/cm² or less.

12. The electrical contact of claim 9 wherein said aqueous iodide solution is subjected to a charge density at or below about 40 mA*s/cm .

13. The electrical contact of claim 9 wherein said iodine-containing material comprises a light gray color.

14. The electrical contact of claim 9 wherein the iodine-containing material comprises a thickness of at least covering the surface of said silver surface.

15. The electrical contact of claim 9 wherein the iodine containing material is KI in an aqueous solution electrodeposited onto a silver containing substrate.

16. The electrical contact of claim 9 wherein the contact resistance is 10 mΩ

or less.

17. A method of reducing corrosion of a silver-containing surface of an electrical contact comprising electro-depositing a layer of an iodine-containing material on said silver surface at a charge density of 80 mA*s/cm² or less, wherein said iodine-containing material is formed from an aqueous iodine solution comprising an iodide ion concentration of about 0.05 g/L to about 5 g/L and said electrical contact has a contact resistance at 1 N force of about 100 mΩ

or less after exposure to temperatures of about 200°

C. or less.