Plating Fine Conductors: Tin, Silver, Nickel And Why Thickness Is A Decision

What plating is actually for

On a fine conductor the surface is where soldering, corrosion and contact resistance all happen. The base metal sets the conductivity ceiling; the plating decides whether the conductor still terminates reliably after storage, handling and time in service.

The three options

We plate in tin, silver and nickel. Tin is the everyday choice for oxidation protection and consistent soldering. Silver goes on conductors that run warm, need a long service life or have contact resistance specified tightly. Nickel is used where the surface faces harder conditions.

See Tin-Plated Tinsel Wire

Thickness is a specification, not a default

The coating thickness can be customized according to performance requirements, within a range of roughly 0.3 um to 2 um. Choosing it means weighing how long the conductor sits before termination and what environment the finished cable works in, rather than accepting whatever a stock reel carries.

See Silver-Plated Tinsel Wire

What a good coating looks like

The coating is uniform, has good continuity and strong adhesion, and the surface is smooth without discoloration. It must be free of harmful defects such as particles and mechanical damage. On a wound conductor this matters more than on a solid one, because a defect in the foil surface is carried along the entire length of the finished wire.

See Precision Copper Foil

Verifying it

Where the finished cable will face a corrosive environment, salt spray testing applies. The salt spray machine is simulated salt spray environment equipment for artificially accelerated corrosion testing, used to check the corrosion resistance of metals, coatings and electronic components.