| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 0 531 099 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
07.04.1993 Bulletin 1993/14 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
10.03.1993 Bulletin 1993/10 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 02.09.1992 |
|
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
DE FR GB |
| (30) |
Priority: |
05.09.1991 US 755261
|
| (71) |
Applicant: INCO LIMITED |
|
Toronto
Ontario, M5K 1N4 (CA) |
|
| (72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Bell, James Alexander Evert
Oakville,
Ontario L6L 5Y9 (CA)
- Conard, Bruce Randolph
Oakville,
Ontario L6J 3X4 (CA)
- Hope, Douglas Albert
Mississauga,
Ontario L5K 1Z3 (CA)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Hedley, Nicholas James Matthew et al |
|
Stephenson Harwood
One, St. Paul's Churchyard
London EC4M 8SH
London EC4M 8SH (GB) |
|
| |
|
| (54) |
Corrosion resistant high temperature contacts or electrical connectors and method
of fabrication thereof |
(57) The invention provides a composite material specifically adapted for use as high
temperature corrosion resistant electrical connectors. A conductible nickel-base substrate
alloy having corrosion resistance, strength and creep resistance is used to hold shape
at 200°C. An interlayer of substantially pure nickel is electrolytically plated over
the nickel-base substrate. A noble metal surface is diffusion bonded to the electrolytic
nickel interlayer. The noble metal surface cannot be hardened by organic additives
which accelerate corrosion at 200°C. Alternatively, if a copper-base substrate is
used, a layer of wrought pure nickel is bonded to the substrate then a layer of electroplated
nickel is used to overplate the wrought nickel and the copper-base substrate. A noble
metal surface is then diffusion bonded to the electrolytic nickel layer.