Development of empirical equations for fretting-corrosion failure-time of tin-plated contacts

The development of the empirical equation on a simplified electrical single contact is proposed for fretting-corrosion behavior of tin-plated contact. Using the linear fitting method for experimental results, the first-order equation involving the experimental variable such as either a mechanical acceleration factor (fretting frequency) or a chemical acceleration factor (temperature) has been developed. Failure-time variation sensitivity for each variable is proposed. The second-order equation against both fretting frequency and temperature is proposed as the three-dimensional flat surface model. Generally, the failure-time decreases with an increase in degradation factors. At special cases, the decrease in failure-time is retarded with the increase in degradation factors. The high fretting frequency can increase failure-time, and its effect is high at low temperature. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.