Facts and Myths on Connector Lubrication
Wondering if you need grease for electrical contacts and connectors? Watch our video below to uncover 6 facts and myths that will help make your design decision easier.
Myth: Grease attracts dirt.
Fact: Magnets attract, greases don’t. Grease creates an environmental barrier so dirt, dust, and moisture stay away from the contact surface.
Myth: Lubricants interfere with conductivity.
Fact: A contact lubricant fills in the valleys of the contact surface to protect the metal from oxidation, and is squeezed out of the asperities.
Myth: Lubricants don’t prevent corrosion.
Fact : A lubricant acts as a back-up seal from corrosion. Lubricants seal contact metals from oxygen, mositure, aggressive chemicals and other hostile elements.
Myth: Lubricants do not significantly lower insertion force.
Fact: Lubricants ease mating to ensure more efficient, solid connections, ecspecially for multi-pin connectors.
Myth: Fretting corrosion cannot be prevented.
Fact: A lubricant minimizes contact wear and protects the contact surface from oxidation during fretting.
Myth: Gold-plated contacts don’t need grease.
Fact: Plating is microscopically porous. A thin film of lubricant seals those pores and guards against scratches and substrate oxidation (blooming).
