The effects of the interaction of normal force and wipe distance on contact resistance in precious metal plated contacts

The effects of contact normal force and wiping distance on contact resistance were evaluated for hemispherical contacts wiping on flat coupons. Hard- and soft-gold-plated coupons and palladium and gold-over-palladium contacts were used. Two types of wiping action were investigated; wiping under the full normal force of 180 g and wiping during the application of the normal force. The coupon surface conditions used were: clean, lubricated, and lubricated and dust-covered. The lubricated and dust-covered conditions was intended to provide a severe condition for wiping action to penetrate or displace. The effects of cycling were also evaluated. In most cases it was found that wiping distances on the order of >