Electrically conductive metal tape and plug connector

• US 20020096662A1
• Filed: 05/17/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stolberger Metallwerke GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Stolberger Metallwerke GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Schleicher, Klause, Gebhardt, Jurgen, Adler, Udo, Rumbach, Albert
• Granted Patent: US 6,641,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 252/500
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/01 all layers being exclusively metallic making layered metal workpieces by pressure cladding B23K20/22; making coatings with a metallic material characterised by its composition C23C30/00
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 13/00 Alloys based on tin
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 9/06 with nickel or cobalt as the next major constituent
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/03 characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/929 Electrical contact feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12715 Next to Group IB metal-base component

Abstract

An electrically conductive metal tape for manufacturing electrical contact components and a plug connector made of it. The metal tape has a base material made of copper or a copper alloy having a metallic coating, applied by molten technology, made of a tin-silver alloy containing a silver proportion between 1% and 3.8% by weight. The silver content in the coating preferably lies between 1.2% by weight and 2.5% by weight. Especially positive properties with respect to the adhesiveness between base material and metal coating are achieved by the silver proportion in the coating. At the same time, the temperature stability and sliding properties are improved. Furthermore, a stable contact resistance is ensured.

Claims

1. An electrically conductive metal tape for electrical contact components and plug connectors, comprising:

a base material made of copper or a copper alloy having a metal coating made of tin-silver alloy, and an intermetallic phase between the base material and the coating, wherein the coating is made of a tin-silver alloy having a silver proportion between 1% and 3.8% by weight.

2. The metal tape according to claim 1, wherein the silver content of the coating is from 1.2% by weight and 2.5% by weight.

3. The metal tape according to claim 1, wherein the tin-silver alloy contains up to 10% by weight indium.

4. The metal tape according to claim 1, wherein the tin- silver alloy contains between 0.1% and 5% by weight indium.

5. The metal tape according to claim 2, wherein the tin- silver alloy contains between 0.1% and 5% by weight indium.

6. The metal tape according to claim 1, wherein the base material includes:

7. The metal tape according to claim 2, wherein the base material includes:

8. The metal tape according to claim 1, wherein the base material includes:

9. The metal tape according to claim 2, wherein the base material includes:

10. The metal tape according to claim 1, wherein the base material contains between 0.02% and 0.5% by weight silver (Ag).

11. The metal tape according to claim 2, wherein the base material contains between 0.02% and 0.5% by weight silver (Ag).

12. The metal tape according to claim 4, wherein the base material contains between 0.02% and 0.5% by weight silver (Ag).

13. The metal tape according to claim 6, wherein the base material contains between 0.02% and 0.5% by weight silver (Ag).

14. The metal tape according to claim 8, wherein the base material contains between 0.02% and 0.5% by weight silver (Ag).

15. The metal tape according to claim 10, wherein the base material contains between 0.05% and 0.2% by weight of silver (Ag).

16. The metal tape according to claim 1, wherein the base material contains up to 0.35% by weight zirconium (Zr).

17. The metal tape according to claim 16, wherein the base material contains between 0.005% and 0.05% by weight of zirconium (Zr).

18. The metal tape according to claim 1, wherein the base material contains up to 0.1% by weight of magnesium (Mg), up to 0.05% by weight of phosphorus (P) or up to 0.1% by weight of iron (Fe).

19. A plug connector made of a metal tape according to claim 1.