SPI Supplies

Santovac® 5GB Ultra High Vacuum Grease

Use on electrical and electronic contacts


Polyphenyl ethers have been used on electrical and electronic contacts for more than 25 years. This has proven to be an excellent application of this technology for a number of reasons:

1. PPE's have excellent long term oxidative and thermal stability

2. They also have very low vapor pressure and, therefore, depending upon operating conditions can have a life of 20-40 years.

3. This technology has been proven in this application and is speced in to many applications.

4. They have an extremely high surface tension which means they won't migrate and, therefore, cannot contaminate other parts of an electrical or electronic system.

5. PP's significantly reduce contact resistance and will increase the number of cycles (insertions and withdrawals) into the millions as opposed to just a few thousands of cycles for unlubricated contacts. As a result, contact life will be significantly higher since they will not break nor show excessive wear.

6. Since the PPE's are so stable they prevent all forms of corrosion, including "Fretting Corrosion", or micromotion, which is a major problem today in all types of applications such as automotive sensors, mobile phones, telephone switching connectors, utility electrical equipment, nuclear power plant switches, etc.

7. PPE's resist water and, therefore, prevent water from getting to the surface of the contact. Droplets are not a problem, since the PPE coating is self healing and there is continuing motion of the droplets which provides resistance towards other fluids and gases.

These products can be applied either as 100% pure, or in an evaporative solvent in order to achieve a thin film on the surface of the contact. Also, the contacts can be dipped in the Connector Lubricant or Lubricant Solution, or the Lubricant or Solution can be brushed or sprayed on the connector.

The PPE's are nonconductive fluids. The metal asperities, or roughness of the contact surface, are sufficient to maintain the contact. After the contact is coated with the lubricant film, the connector is mated. During the insertion process the metal asperities make contact providing excellent electrical transfer. In addition, some of the droplets tend to move slightly apart, until the contacts are seated. There will always be a thin coating between and around the contacts due to the self healing property that results form its high surface tension and non-wetting property. The contact will be fully protected from contaminants, corrosion, wear, etc., but still provide excellent electrical transfer.


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Sunday March 21, 2010
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