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Tin plate or Lead-Tin plate

I will be receiving some electrical crimp contacts and need to verify the plating material. I'm looking for an easy, quick and inexpensive way to do this. It can be destructive.
thanks for the help,

Dean Cowles
Product Designer - Redmond, WA
March 18, 2008

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Dean,
The best method I can suggest is by SEM (scanning electron microscope). It will give you the percentage of the alloys of the part, if it is indeed a tin-lead alloy. A reputable laboratory in your area should have the capabilities and provide you with a detailed print-out. Good Luck!

Mark Baker
Process Engineer - Syracuse, New York
March 20, 2008

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x-ray fluorescence will work very well for this. It will be quick, non-destructive, very specific to those elements and will not involve hazardous chemicals.

Price for purchasing is a little spendy, but commercial labs will probably have what you need.

We have a specific type of XRF where you have a micro beam of 50 µm diameter so you can really focus on specific features and that is very handy.

thanks

Terry Tomt
- Auburn, Washington
March 21, 2008