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can silver plating be used as barrier when soldering brass to copper? silver plate the brass?

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#77691

can silver plating be used as barrier when soldering brass to copper? silver plate the brass? | 8 June, 2017

In an excellent previous thread davef mentions brass should be plated prior to soldering to prevent zinc leaching from the brass. It is reported once the zinc leaches, the joint is weak. He recommends copper or nickel plating.

Would silver plating work just as well? Silver plating is a process I already use.

Thanks, Jeff

link to previous thread http://www.smtnet.com/Forums/index.cfm?fuseaction=view_thread&Thread_ID=12041

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#77693

can silver plating be used as barrier when soldering brass to copper? silver plate the brass? | 8 June, 2017

You know the scary part about your mentioning a tread where I post something? Well. let's just say that 2007 was a long time ago.

Anyhow, silver will dissolve into your solder and provide no barrier. Some people apply a silver flash plating over their nickle barrier to limit corrosion of the nickle.

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#77695

can silver plating be used as barrier when soldering brass to copper? silver plate the brass? | 8 June, 2017

davef, thanks for feedback. I talked with a plater who said they put copper before silver when plating brass. Would a complete stack of: Brass part, then 0.0001-0.0002" of copper, then 0.0005" of silver, then Tarniban anti oxidation. Sound reasonable to prep a brass part for soldering to copper?

I could do simple copper plating, but am worried it would oxidize before soldering. I guess the oxidation could be wire brushed off.

Thanks again for feedback.

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#77696

can silver plating be used as barrier when soldering brass to copper? silver plate the brass? | 8 June, 2017

Your plater's recommendation should work fine.

Your simple copper plate will work, but you'll be stepping into fighting a copper tarnish battle. Silver over the copper is a better choice.

I was thinking a silver thickness of a minimum of 3 microns [0.000118 inch] should be used, and preferable 6 microns [0.000236 inch]. Your plater is recommending thicker silver.

Silver Plating Services to QQ-S-365, 3.4.1 Thickness of plating: Unless otherwise specified the minimum plating thickness shall be 0.0005 inch (0.013mm) on all surfaces on which silver is functionally necessary (for example: appearance, wear, corrosion protection, conductivity).

I'm unfamiliar with "Tarniban anti oxidation."

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#77702

can silver plating be used as barrier when soldering brass to copper? silver plate the brass? | 8 June, 2017

Jeff,

You might look at this paper, which has some background & references that are relevant to your question ...

http://www.semlab.com/papers/diffusionbarrierplatinginelectronics.pdf

Ed Hare

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#77707

can silver plating be used as barrier when soldering brass to copper? silver plate the brass? | 9 June, 2017

Ed, this is great info. Thanks. Jeff

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