Hard Gold and Its Benefits
Hard gold has a smaller grain size than soft, and offers a more lustrous finish. It’s also able to withstand higher normal contact forces, and can power through many more use cycles than ENIG.
However, due to the presence of nickel, cobalt and other non-noble metals in hard gold deposits, soldering is not possible. This makes it unsuitable for ultrasonic wire bonding or thermosonic bonding.
3D Hard Gold
Compared with ordinary thousand gold, 3D hard gold is more delicate and lightweight, but it also has superior hardness. It can be molded into any shape and can endure the impact of heavy items, so it hard gold is suitable for jewelry. Its high hardness can also make it resistant to scratches and dents, so it is not easily affected by external factors.
3D hard gold is a new technology that enhances the hardness of gold. It is made by adding palladium, a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal to the gold. The process makes it possible to produce a wide range of complex products, and it is four times harder than traditional thousand gold.
The technology used to make 3D hard gold is similar to 3D printing, which uses a digital model file to bond materials layer by layer. It is an environmentally friendly, safe and convenient way to produce jewelry. In addition, it can produce more detailed and textured designs than previous methods.
In order to keep your 3D hard gold jewelry in good condition, it is important to avoid collisions with other hard objects. Also, it is best to remove your gold jewelry before washing dishes or cleaning the house, as alkaline chemicals can cause chemical changes that may damage the surface of the gold. To prevent this, we recommend storing your jewelry in a special box and wearing it with care.
Solid Gold
Gold is naturally resistant to corrosion, especially in corrosive environments such as those where chlorine and sulfur gases may be present. This makes it ideal for use in applications where electrical signals must maintain stable transmission.
The higher purity of gold plating also creates better resistance to oxidation when used in high temperature environments. Cobalt and nickel hard gold electrodeposits, however, oxidize much more quickly than soft or ENIG plating when exposed to high temperatures, increasing contact resistance significantly.
Whether hard or soft gold plating is best for a specific application depends on a number of factors, including the type of environment where it will be used, the need for adequate contact force and the appearance requirements of the piece. For example, items that will be repeatedly inserted and removed from a PCB are often better served by the durability and low coefficient of friction that hard gold offers.
In addition, the presence of non-noble metals like cobalt and nickel in hard gold electrodeposits makes soldering difficult, as these metals oxidize at higher temperatures and can weaken the bond. However, the nickel underplate in hard electroplated gold plates serves to bear the load of contact stress and improve overall wear resistance. Additionally, hard gold’s smaller and more precise grain structure produces a finish that is far more lustrous than ENIG plating and can withstand many durability cycles based on the thickness of the deposit.
k-Gold
There is no best gold type, and which one you choose depends on your personal preferences, style and budget. However, if you are planning on wearing your jewelry regularly and need something that is durable and sturdy enough for everyday wear, you should consider going for 22k gold. This is a high-purity gold that contains 91.6% gold and other metal alloys to make it hard and durable.
There are also lower karat gold items being marketed today, such as 1k gold. This is largely a marketing gimmick to add perceived value to lines of fashion jewelry that are just a step above costume pieces. It will Hard Gold PCB Supplier not hold up well to daily wear, and may tarnish or irritate sensitive skin.
The word “karat” is derived from the Latin word for carob seed, which was the standard unit of measurement used for weighing gems. The system of referring to the purity of gold using karats evolved in the medieval era, when it became necessary to weigh marks made from gold. Since pure gold is too soft to produce marks, copper or other hard metals were added to produce a tougher alloy.
Today, most fine jewelry is made from 18k, 14k or 10k gold, with 18k being the most popular choice for engagement rings and other high-end jewellery due to its richness of colour and feel and the durability it provides. 14k is a popular standard for everyday jewellery, with its ability to withstand wear and tear, and 10k is often used as a budget-friendly alternative.
Properties
Hard gold is plated over a nickel barrier coat and is typically used on PCB edge connector fingers and keypads. It is less expensive than nickel, and its luster is brighter due to the refined grain structure of the metal deposit. However, its durability is compromised by a high coefficient of friction, and lubricants or an underlayer of nickel are recommended to mitigate this issue.
A disadvantage of hard gold plating is its poor solderability. Since the plating contains non-noble elements like cobalt and nickel, it oxidizes at soldering temperatures and reduces the strength of the bond. As a result, it is generally not suitable for soldering processes such as ultrasonic wire bonding and thermosonic bonding. ENIG plating, which is more pure than hard gold, is better suited to these tasks.
Another important aspect of hard gold is its corrosion resistance. This is determined by the amount of oxidation and other compounds that can form with gold deposits under certain conditions, such as elevated temperatures or exposure to acid. Hard gold plating is prone to these issues, which is why it is important to consider the item’s environment and its intended use when selecting the type of gold to plate. Plating an item with ENIG or hard gold will offer superior corrosion resistance than soft or hard-plated gold.
