Fretting Behavior of Au Plated Copper Contacts Induced by High Frequency Vibration

Fretting, which induced by high frequency vibration, remains a major cause of connector failure and can impair reliability in aerospace electrical and electronic systems. The test system was developed for high frequency fretting conditions (Maximum vibration frequency 2000Hz) by using electro dynamic shaker in this paper. The fretting behavior of gold plated copper contacts was studied by controlling the fretting frequency and the fretting amplitude. Contact resistance, friction force, and dynamic fretting displacement were recorded explicitly. Surface characteristics of fretted area are also analyzed by SEM/EDX. It is clearly revealed that the contact micro morphology feature, fretting amplitude and frequency are important factors for electrical contact degradation and the failure mechanisms of contacts.