Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
Content archived on 2024-04-15

STUDY OF A NEW GENERATION OF ELECTRICAL CONTACTS FOR CONNECTORS THROUGH MODIFICATION OF METALLIC SURFACES BY ELECTRODEPOSITED POLYMER FILM

Objective

The aim of this project is to increase our knowledge of the interface properties and the deposition processes, with or without external current, of a new type of electrical contact. Instead of considering the traditional and largely explored field of purely metallic conductors, the innovative aspect of the project is to propose the utilization of an organic polymer film. The Polymer selected normally is an insulator, but in this case it behaves as a metal due to the particular conditions of polymerisation and an appropriate post- treatment. The economic benefit of this project will accrue in the replacement of gold, used in the protection of contacts, by a cheaper material, or to limit its utilisation by improving the properties of contact (contact resistance, tribology, resistance against corrosion and vibration, and constancy in aspect).
The project concerned the formation of a polymeric film, grafted onto a metallic cathode, through electropolymerisation in nonaqueous media. From the industrial point of view, the aim was to develop a completely original type of coating, perhaps able to reduce, or even to suppress, the classical gold coating upon electrical contacts for connectors. The projectresulted in development of an electrically conducting polymeric coating (based on peroxyacylnitrate (PAN)) which can be applied to nickel plated metal supports.

Studies have been carried out on acrylonitrile electropolymerization on to a nickel cathode surface. These studies increased knowledge concerning the behaviour of the monomer molecule during its approach to the cathode and the formation of the first radical. The structure of the early polymer layer, the growth mechanism and the global structure of the final polymer film were also studied.
Comparisons with metals other than nickel as the cathode and with monomers other than acrylonitride have been made. These proved the possibility of extending the process to many other cases and they also contributed to the comprehension of basic features.
In order to improve their electrical conductivity some films were submitted to different posttreatments (moderate heating, ultraviolet radiation). In each case the chemical structure of the polymer is severely affected, through oxidation, hydrolysis and/or cyclization. From the application point of view the film electrical behaviour changes from insulating to conducting. Friction behaviour and resistance to corrosion were also improved.
THE EMPHASIS IN THIS PROJECT IS TO INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE ON THE INTERFACE PROPERTIES AND THE DEPOSITION PROCESSES, WITH OR WITHOUT EXTERNAL CURRENTS, OF A NEW TYPE OF ELECTRICAL CONTACT.

INSTEAD OF CONSIDERING THE TRADITIONAL AND LARGELY EXPLORED FIELD OF PURELY METALLIC CONDUCTORS, THE INNOVATIVE ASPECT OF THE PROJECT IS TO PROPOSE THE UTILIZATION OF AN ORGANIC POLYMER FILM. THE POLYMER SELECTED NORMALLY IS AN INSULATOR, BUT IN THIS CASE IT BEHAVES AS A METAL DUE TO THE PARTICULAR CONDITIONS OF POLYMERISATION AND AN APPROPRIATE POST-TREATMENT.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Data not available

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

Data not available

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

SOURIAU ET CIE SA
EU contribution
No data
Address
13 RUE DU GENERAL GALLIENI
92103 BOULOGNE-BILLANCOURT
France

See on map

Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Participants (2)

My booklet 0 0