INCREASING THE CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE CONTACT CONNECTOR BY REDUCING THE HEIGHT PARAMETERS OF ROUGHNESS USING ELECTROCHEMICAL GRINDING

The technological process of galvanic nickel plating using electrochemical grinding and subsequent re-coating is considered. A comparative analysis of the roughness of coatings on detachable electrical contact connectors manufactured at the enterprise and those treated using electrochemical grinding and re-nickel plating technology is performed. Three-dimensional models and profile diagrams of the studied samples of both the manufacturer's production and contact electrical connectors treated using this technology are presented. The problems that arise when applying coatings at the manufacturing plant are shown, as well as the advantages of the galvanic nickel plating using electrolysis, while applying electrochemical surface grinding, which is the reverse process of electroplating metals. It includes partial electrochemical surface grinding followed by re-nickel plating, which helps to increase the actual contact area between electrical connectors, improve electrical conductivity and increase the coefficient of friction at rest, and also increases the service life of vibration-prone all-in-one connectors and detachable connectors in general. The analysis of the obtained values of the arithmetic mean deviation of the profile, the maximum distance between the line of protrusions and the line of profile depressions, the parameter of asymmetry, the average step of the irregularities and the average step of the local protrusions of the profile was also carried out. The presented surface, according to the studied roughness parameters shows the least number of cracks, deep scratches and dents on the product. This, in turn, helps to increase electrical conductivity, improve the surface connection of electrical contact connectors, reduce the resistance when connecting contacts and smooth out micro-dimensions.