GLENAIR
Controlling Specifications and the Move Away from Cadmium
Plating Types
As a result, military and related industry specs have been revised, including the “grand-daddy” of specifications for backshells and accessories, AS85049, controlled by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). MIL-DTL-38999L, published in May 2008, and MIL- DTL-83513, published in October 2008, were among the first military connector specifications to specifically call for new non-cadmium plating options for connectors and accessories. These were among the most important mil-specs controlling circular and rectangular military interconnects to instigate the move away from Cad. MIL- DTL-28840, the controlling mil-spec for shipboard, high density circular interconnects, followed suit and was also revised to include both new barrier as well as sacrificial plating systems. Initially these specification revisions settled on the following new plating systems: Code P: Pure electrodeposited
Non-Conductive Suitable for controlled to harsh environments No EMI/RFI shielding Extended corrosion resistance life
aluminum, conductive, temperature rated -65˚C to 175˚C, in accordance with MIL-DTL-83488, Type II, to withstand 1000 hours of dynamic salt spray testing. Code T: Nickel fluorocarbon polymer over a suitable underplate, conductive, temperature rated -65˚C to 175˚C, to withstand 500 hours of dynamic salt spray testing, and Code Z: Zinc nickel in
Barrier Finish Controlled environments only Continuous conductivity Non-outgassing
accordance with ASTM B841 over a suitable underplate, conductive, temperature rated -65˚C to 175˚C, to withstand 1000 hours of dynamic salt spray testing. Color shall be matte black. But shortcomings with the above choices led Glenair material scientists to pursue and qualify an additional new plating system, Tin-Zinc, that better matches the desirable properties of Cadmium. The Glenair process was the first to be qualified to MIL-DTL-28840 and the German Military VG specification. A sacrificial system, Tin-Zinc is arguably the first RoHS and
Sacrificial Finish Suitable for controlled to harsh environments Best corrosion protection Cadmium is the benchmark
REACH plating system that effectively replaces cadmium. Before we look at the particulars of the new Tin-Zinc process, it is worthwhile to discuss the nature of conductive plating systems in more detail.
QwikConnect • April 2023
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