Plated wires were initially created for applications where severe operating conditions could cause typical conductor material in the wire to deteriorate. A plated wire is developed by plating a desired metal to the bare conductor metal in a variety of plating thicknesses, and then film insulating it depending on the application.
These plated wires prevent high-temperature chemical migration and conductor oxidation, allowing them to function at excessive temperatures for incredibly long periods of time. Insulated wires with tin and copper plating are generally used in lower temperature applications. In addition, the wire’s solderability, conductivity, and overall mechanical strength can also be enhanced by plating.
Plated Wire Technical Data
Need more info about wire size and coating thickness? See our Data Sheet in our Tech Book.
Base Metals / Core Conductors
MWS can add plating to a variety of core wires including:
- Copper
- Brass
- Phosphor Bronze
- Beryllium Copper
- Nickel
- Nickel Alloys
- Copper Clad Steel
- Constantan
- Dumet
- Kovar
- Monel
- Stainless Steel Wire
MWS offers plated wire in all sizes 14 – 52 AWG in single bare, insulated, multi strand parallel bonded, braided, twisted, or shaped constructions. Plating thickness is determined based on your requirements.
A specialist in gold plated wire
MWS supplies gold plated wire to the electronics, aerospace, medical, and defense sectors. The most common usage for gold is as a thin plating on junction points. When exposed to air, the thin oxide layer that forms on the surfaces of most metals is not highly conductive and can become uneven and pitted due to chemical reactions, making it a poor mating surface for a connector. Gold can offer a dependable smooth surface that can establish a strong connection with the mated surface because it does not oxidize like most metals do.
Gold is also useful in situations (particularly at low voltages) where maintaining electrical conductivity is critical, such as with extremely thin wires, where even a tiny loss of cross-sectional area due to oxidation can drastically reduce the wire's capacity.
Product Spotlight
Plated Wire
Plated wires inventoried include those meeting QQ-W-343, AA59551, and Mil Std 1276. Plating thickness available from 10-750 microinch (.000010 – .000750 inch)
Gold Plated Wire
ASTM B488
MIL G45204
MIL DTL 45204D
MIL STD 1276
Gold Plating is often used in high reliability electrical components where maintaining cross-sectional area and conductivity capacity is critical.
Gold Purity:
- Type I, II and III purity deposits
- 99.7% cobalt-hardened gold
- 99.9% pure soft gold electrodeposits
Advantages:
- Does not form an oxide layer.
- Does not chemically react under normal conditions.
- Maintains a smooth surface that can make a good connection with the mated surface.
- Excellent electrical conductivity
- Exceptional solderability
Applications:
- Hard gold-plated wire is commonly used in applications where excessive friction or material wear are a design concern.
- Soft gold-plated wire is often used where the highest of gold purity is mandatory for soldering, bonding, exposure to high temperature or high corrosion resistance.
Finish Type:
- Bright (natural)
Available in Hard and Soft
Nickel Plated Wire
ASTM B689
AMS 2403
MIL STD 1276
QQ-N-290
Nickel plated wire offers great corrosion and high temperature resistance.
Nickel Purity:
- 99.5%
- 99.9%
Advantages:
- Great corrosion resistance due to the formation of a protective surface oxide
- Excellent high-temperature resistance.
Applications:
- Spring and wire forming as a lubricious coating offering increased tool life.
- Coating Abrasive metals such as beryllium copper and stainless steel to prevent premature tool failure.
- Various soldering, brazing, and welding applications in which a highly pure nickel deposit is required.
Finish Type:
- Bright (natural)
Available in annealed, hard, and half hard.
Silver Plated Wire
ASTM B298
ASTM B700
MIL STD 1276
QQ-S-365
Silver has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of all metals as well as the highest optical reflectivity.
Advantages:
- High-temperature lubricity when used as a coating for high friction applications on surfaces exposed to temperatures up to 1200F.
- Excellent solderability and is commonly used for wire bonding.
- MWS’s silver plated wire provides the most concentric coating thickness available to ensure complete coverage of the substrate.
Applications:
- Electronic and cable applications where signal stability is a concern.
- High Friction Applications
- Wire Bonding
Finish Type:
- Bright (natural)
Available in annealed, hard, and half-hard
Tin Plated Wire/ Bus Wire
ASTM B33
ASTM B545
MIL STD 1276
MIL-T-10727
QQ-W-343 (or AA59551)
Tin plated wires were developed for applications where severe operating environments may degrade conventional conductor materials. Tin plated wires are insulated for lower temperature applications.
Purity:
- 100% Pure Tin
Advantages:
- Strong electrical conductivity
- Strong corrosion resistance
- Unsurpassed solderability of base metals that are not otherwise effectively soldered to.
Applications:
- Transportation and distribution
- Ground wire
- Hook-ups and Jumpers
Finish Types:
- Bright (die-burnished)
- Matte (natural)
Available in annealed, hard, and half-hard.
Tin/Lead Plated
ASTM B579
MIL STD 1276
MIL-P-81728
QQ-W-343
Tin/Lead plated wire used in aeronautical and aerospace applications where the addition of lead prevents the forming of “tin whiskers”. Tin whiskers are the cause of electrical failure due to their growth and penetration of electrical cabling resulting in a short circuit.
Tin/Lead Ratios:
- 60/40
- 70/30
- 90/10
Advantages:
- Strong electrical conductivity
- Strong corrosion resistance
- Unsurpassed solderability of base metals that are not otherwise effectively soldered to.
Finish Types:
- Bright (die-burnished)
- Matte (natural)
Available in annealed, hard, and half hard.
Special Processes
Ask a sales representative about any special temper or wire finish.
Wire is available in sizes 14 – 52 AWG with the following options:
- Soft/Hard Temper
- Bare
- Insulated
- Shaped
- Plated
- Bondable
Plating Specifications
Surface Conditions and Treatments:
- Bright,
- Semi-bright
- Matte Finish
Looking for something specific?
We probably have it in stock. If we don’t, we can make it faster than you’d think!
Why Choose MWS?
Quick and Right Answers.
We invest heavily in our customer service and engineering team so that we can give you the right answers and the most effective customized solutions. Our success, as well as our very purpose, is directly linked to the long-term satisfaction of our customers using our wire products.
Unrivaled Availability, Low Minimum Order Quantity, and Quick Delivery.
MWS has one of the largest inventories of stainless-steel wire and other wire products. We provide wire from 1/4lb to 50lb spools. Ninety percent of our stock orders go out within a week. Short production runs and quick turnarounds are our specialty.
Pre-cut Wire Lengths and Other Custom Orders.
We can provide straight wire cuts from one inch to 6-foot lengths holding the tolerances you require for your specific application. Need shaped wire? We have a variety of special shapes including square wire, flat wire, and ribbon wire. Special coatings and finishes are available as well.
Headache Free Compliance Documentation.
Let us help you satisfy your customer’s needs for clear and comprehensive compliance documentation including RoHS, REACH, DFARS, MADE IN USA, USMCA, etc. Chemical and physical testing reports are also available upon request.
Let Us Manage Your Inventory for You.
With 40,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space and thousands of products in stock, inventory management is our specialty. It doesn’t have to be yours. Whether it’s same day shipment from inventory or producing a wire to meet just-in-time schedules, we can get what you need when you need it. Ask about scheduled shipments synchronized to work with your inventory control, JIT, or Kanban system.