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Can White Gold replace Yellow Gold for electrical contacts?

Please advice if there is a chemistry or is it feasible to plate white gold on copper? And, is there any evaluation done using white gold as a replacement of pure gold in electronic component like contacts and connectors?
With the adverse price increase of Au, the objective is to look for alternative to pure Au plating.
Will appreciate for any comment and suggestion.

Camelia Koh
Material Engineer - Malaysia
March 10, 2011

Hi, Camelia.

White gold at any given karat costs the same as yellow gold. By the time you get close to 24 kt there is no such thing as white gold because pure gold is yellow and the white coloration came from the alloying materials. Palladium is less expensive than gold and lower in weight, and has found fairly wide use as a substitute. Electroless nickel plating can serve as a contact and connector material except for very low power contacts. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.
March 10, 2011

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