Introduction
Connection applications often require a combination of engineering properties not found in a single material. To meet these requirements, designers frequently combine metals with different, but complementary, engineering properties. In joining materials for high reliability interconnects, precious metal coatings are often required, which can increase costs significantly.
Traditionally, engineers have turned to electroplating as a means of applying these coatings; however, metal-to-metal cladding - as either an overall or a selective stripe coating - is a practical, cost-effective alternative to electroplating (figure1). Besides providing unique property combinations, cladding reduces labor, simplifies assembly and improves product quality. More importantly, it provides designers with increased design flexibility.
A time-tested, metalworking technique, cladding is used successfully in a wide variety of industries, including the electrical, electronics, automotive, telecommunications, semiconductor and appliance industries. Typical applications include connector contacts, switch contacts, wirebond interconnects and semiconductor lead frames.
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