Delphi Technologies Inc.

Delphi's Silver Corrosion Reduction Process is a method of treating silver-containing surfaces to reduce corrosion.

Delphi's approach electrochemically forms an iodine-containing layer on a silver surface as a means of protecting the silver surface from sulfur. The surface is protected from wear by the thin surface layer that also functions as a solid lubricant, while preserving a low electrical resistance surface (vs. regular oxidation with no protective layer).

The Delphi Silver Corrosion Reduction Process can replace a stable but more costly fluid-based silver lubrication approach.

Benefits

• Allows sustained performance of an electrical contact by providing reliable and stable interconnections between the electrical contacts of electromechanical devices
• Permits a suitably low resistance electrical contact to the underlying silver layer
• Iodine-containing layer on silver contact surfaces
• Improves the sulfur-tarnish resistance, friction and wear characteristics, and preserves the electrical stability vs. a bare silver surface
• Provides a frictional coefficient that is 5 times lower than a bare, clean silver surface
• Layer does not migrate away from the point of contact with time or during wear
• Surface resistance is low and electrically stable for conduction of electric current
• Increases lifetime of sliding switch cycles 
• Improved fretting endurance
• Economical and efficient for mass-production
  

Typical Applications

Using a protective iodine-containing coating on the surface of a silver-containing layer, Delphi's Silver Corrosion Reduction Process is particularly useful for the following applications:

• Electrical device contacts
• Terminals
• Switches
• Other electrical connectors
  

It can be used in the following markets:

• Automotive
• Consumer
• Industrial
  

Classification

Manufacturing Processes & Logistics: Processes

Patent Number

7,575,665, Method of reducing corrosion of silver containing surfaces

Inventors

Harrington; Charles R., Aukland; Neil R.

Contact Information

Tim Forbes
[1] 248.813.8065
timothy.forbes@delphi.com