Choosing hermetically sealed connectors and how much they can handle

Extreme and harsh environments demand that extra protection be in place to protect the integrity of a particular system. A hermetically sealed connector will provide this much needed protection by keeping out all moisture, contaminants and air. When looking for the right connectors for your particular application, these tips will stand you in good stead. Selecting the shell Rectangular and circular shells are the two types of shells majorly. Their sizes will range from 0.25 to 3.0 inches on average. A variety of materials can make up connectors like;

1. 300 Series Stainless Steel
2. Kovar
3. Cold Rolled Steel
4. Aluinium
5. Titanium
6. Inconel

Kovar contains iron and is a nickel and cobalt based alloy. Inconel contains iron and chromium and it is a nickel based alloy. Aluminium and Titanium hermetically sealed connectors will be lightweight but also provide the same seal quality as heavier materials. Selecting the pins In selecting the right pin configuration you need to determine the number of pins you need and their orientation. The pin end shapes will usually include eyelet, rounded, and hook types and they range from 4 AWG to 16 AWG in size. Pin materials that you will typically find are

• Kovar as well as Copper Cored Kovar
• Alloy 52
• Inconel
• Stainless steel
• Molybdenum

Alloy 52 is a nickel and iron compound which works fine with sealing glass with metal. Molybdenum is efficient in reducing wear and friction. Selecting the finish The finish is extremely important because it protects the hermetically sealed connectors from the environment. The standard finishes available are Bright Tin Plating, Copper Plating, Electroless/electrolytic plating, silver plating and gold plating. Even though the finish’s primary function is to protect the connector against corrosion, it is also viewed as a design element. It can make your design look sharp and stand out among other designs. Gold plating has the ability to make the connectors stand out while bright tin plating will be able to create a shiny exterior. Conditions Hermetically sealed connectors are made to perform in extreme conditions. That is why you will see them in application in military and industry. Scuba divers and astronauts also rely on these connectors to give them the best possible connections in the unlikeliest of places. Human lives may depend on the strength of the seal and that is why it is very essential to choose the right kind of connector. A hermetically sealed connector can perform in extreme temperatures and also below zero conditions. Conditions in a spaceship or zero gravity situations also see them perform well. Sheffield Platers is well known over the country for providing hermetic connector housings and bodies, hermetic connector plating services, hermetic connectors and hermetic plating services.