Electrolytic silver-tin (AgSn₂₀) process for electronic finishing

This work described Silveron™ GT-820 Silver-Tin process as a stable chemistry capable of producing a single intermetallic silver-tin alloy with 80% of silver content. The silver-tin alloy composition was very stable over a broad current density window. The deposit was bright and semi-crystalline directly after plating; it could be converted to a crystalline material after short annealing. Silver-tin coating was ductile and tarnish resistant, and the hardness value was comparable to hard gold. The material displayed a low coefficient of friction and good wear durability; all this could be attractive for applications such as press-fit, separable connectors, and bearing which require a low friction force. The process was evaluated under real production conditions and fulfilled all requirements for industrialization. Key features of Silveron Silver-Tin electrolyte and the corresponding deposit are discussed in this report.