Galvanic Series Group I Group II Group III Group IV Group V Magnesium Aluminum 2S Lead-tin Solder Copper-Nickel Graphite Zinc Cadmium Lead Monel Gold Galvanic Steel Aluminum 17ST Nickel Silver Solder Platinum Steel Brass Nickel (passive) Iron Copper Stainless Steel Galvanic Action If dissimilar metals are used, a noise voltage may be induced due to the galvanic reaction between the two metals. Moisture or water vapor in conjunction with the two metals produces a chemical wet cell. The voltage developed depends on the two metals used and is related to their positions on the Galvanic Series Chart. The farther apart the metals are on the chart, the larger the induced voltage. The use of dissimilar metals can also produce a corrosion problem. Galvanic corrosion causes positive ions from one metal to be transferred to the other. This gradually causes the deterioration of the anode material. The farther apart the metals are in the galvanic series, the faster the rate of corrosion. An undesirable but common combination of metals is aluminum and copper. The aluminum will eventually be eaten away. Since aluminum and lead-tin solder are closer in the galvanic series, the reaction time can be slowed down by coating the copper with lead-tin solder. When dissimilar metals must be combined, try to use metals from the same group Hope this helps. ----->Chris >Hello group. >I have a customer who has an RF metal can made of >machined Aluminum that bolts up against a PCB. At >the mating locations between the PCB and the aluminum >is selective plated Nickel Rails. That multiple >surface finish requirement has a premium ($$$$) >and I was wondering what is normal (or typical) in >the EMC industry. Do most people bolt up against Tin >Lead (against aluminum), or do they normally have the >aluminum plated with Nickel? > >I did check the electromotive force charts and quite a >few finishes appear to be "out of the question". > >(This is what I have found si far) >Aluminum (pure) -0.80 >Nickel -0.24 >(Copper -0.34) > > >Tin -0.14 >Lead -0.13 > >(Possible issues due to fretting or galvanic reaction) >Silver +0.80 >Gold (I didn't find gold but I know it's a + value) > >Let me know what is typical in the RF Industry. > >Thanks for any and all replys, > >David Hoover >Field Application Engineer >Data Circuit Systems, Inc. > > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Make a great connection at Yahoo! Personals. >http://personals.yahoo.com >------------------------------------------------------------------ >To unsubscribe from si-list: >si-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field > >or to administer your membership from a web page, go to: >//www.freelists.org/webpage/si-list > >For help: >si-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'help' in the Subject field > >List archives are viewable at: > //www.freelists.org/archives/si-list >or at our remote archives: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/si-list/messages >Old (prior to June 6, 2001) list archives are viewable at: > http://www.qsl.net/wb6tpu > ------------------------------------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from si-list: si-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field or to administer your membership from a web page, go to: //www.freelists.org/webpage/si-list For help: si-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'help' in the Subject field List archives are viewable at: //www.freelists.org/archives/si-list or at our remote archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/si-list/messages Old (prior to June 6, 2001) list archives are viewable at: http://www.qsl.net/wb6tpu