Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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EN/PTFE for temperature sensor?

2006

On my application I use EN (Electroless Nickel) coating. Basic material is red copper and dimensions about 5 x 5 mm. Because of problems we sometimes have of sensor sticking mechanically in the target block they were inserted, I am looking for an alternative. I found a description of EN/PTFE, being Electroless Nickel plating with small PTFE particles which provide a 'non-stick' coating. Could someone advise me what this EN/PTFE coating would do with the thermal conductivity ?

Another option for me would be to use an PTFE-end coating but I can imagine this would be thermally isolating. Or is there also some kind of PTFE coating which is thermally conductive ?

Any comments will be very much appreciated.

Patrick Crombach
Electrical design engineer - Maastricht, Limburg, The Netherlands

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2006

The PTFE particles will increase the resistance of the coating, by about their volume percentage in the deposit. For a 25% coating in high phos EN, the thermal conductivity will increase from about 0.08 W/cm-K to probably 0.11 W/cm-K. This probably is not enough to effect the sensor. The resistivity of a pure PTFE coating would be much higher.

Ron Duncan [deceased]
- LaVergne, Tennessee
It is our sad duty to note Ron's passing on Dec. 15, 2006. A brief obituary opens Episode 13 of our Podcast.