Why Contact Plating Matters
The plating on connector contacts directly affects contact resistance, corrosion resistance, mating cycle life, and cost.
Gold Plating
Best for signal-level contacts, high mating cycles, corrosive environments. Excellent corrosion resistance, stable low resistance, 50-500+ mating cycles.
Tin Plating
Best for power contacts, cost-sensitive designs. Low cost, good power transmission, limited to ~50 mating cycles.
Silver Plating
Best for high-current and RF applications. Lowest resistance, excellent high-frequency performance.
Mixed Plating
Many connectors use gold on signal contacts and tin on power contacts — the best of both worlds.