Plating and Surface Finishing
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Plating and Surface Finishing

Amphenol RF’s global facilities are ISO-certified and equipped to handle both standard and custom plating requirements. Whether the application demands low-loss signal integrity, enhanced wear resistance, or environmental shielding, our plating and finishing solutions are built to support critical applications across automotive, military, industrial and wireless infrastructure markets.
We provide a wide variety of finishes, including nickel, gold, silver, tin and tri-metal (white bronze), each chosen for its unique conductivity, solderability and protective properties. Our in-house capabilities allow for precise control over thickness, uniformity and adhesion, ensuring optimal performance in high-frequency and high-reliability applications.
plating main

Plating and surface finishing in RF interconnect manufacturing are essential for optimizing electrical conductivity, mechanical robustness and environmental durability. Gold, silver and nickel are commonly used to reduce contact resistance, prevent corrosion and ensure reliable signal transmission across a connector's lifespan. These finishes are carefully selected and applied based on frequency range, mating cycles and the operating environment of the RF system.

Why Plating & Finishing Matter in RF Interconnects

RF signals are very sensitive to:

  • Surface conductivity
  • Contact resistance
  • Signal reflection
  • Oxidation or corrosion

Plating and surface finishes address these by enhancing electrical conductivity, maintaining signal integrity and extending product lifespan, especially in harsh or high-frequency environments.

Where Plating Is Used in RF Interconnects

  • Center Contacts (Pins and Sockets)
  • Usually gold-plated over a base metal like brass or beryllium copper
  • Ensures low and stable contact resistance over repeated mating cycles

Key Requirements in RF Applications

  • Uniform coating thickness (critical for maintaining impedance control)
  • Adhesion strength (to avoid flaking or wear-off)
  • High surface quality (to avoid signal scattering and RF noise)
  • Corrosion resistance (especially for outdoor or aerospace environments)

Connector Bodies (Outer Shells)

  • Often nickel-plated or passivated stainless steel for durability
  • Can include gold or silver on the mating interface to improve signal transmission

Cable Shield Termination Zones

  • Plated to enhance solderability or ensure good electrical grounding

Surface Finishing Techniques

  • Electroplating: A common method for applying gold, silver or nickel layer
  • Electroless Plating: Used for uniform coating, especially on complex geometries
  • Passivation: For stainless steel parts, it protects against corrosion without adding thickness
  • Polishing & Deburring: Improves surface finish quality to reduce insertion loss and avoid signal reflection
  • Laser Marking or Etching: For part identification, without compromising plating layers

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