ABSTRACT
Silver (Ag) plating has many different uses in an industrial setting. It can be used as an engineering coating owing to its superior conductivity and corrosion resistance. In electrical power distribution, a bus bar—a thick strip of copper or aluminum—conducts electricity within a switchboard, distribution board, substation, or other electrical apparatus. The thickness of plating strongly depends on the application and environment to which the silver will be exposed. It was found that at thicknesses <2 µm silver plating is porous and provides no proper protection of base metal from corrosion. In general, electroless nickel (EN) is not universally superior to silver or tin. EN plating has a higher electrical resistance than traditional plating. The chapter shows that EN plating could be used in specific electrical installations without de-rating the equipment. However, the results cannot be applied blindly to any other type of electrical equipment.
