Electroplating is a process of depositing metal coatings on the surface of a substrate through electrolysis. In the production of POGOPIN, using copper (Cu) as the substrate, a three-layer coating treatment of “Cu→Ni→Au” is applied to both the pin shaft and the pin tube. The core principle is as follows: in the electroplating solution, the anode releases metal ions (such as nickel and gold ions). Under the action of a DC power supply, the ions migrate towards the cathode (the POGOPIN workpiece to be plated) and deposit as a uniform coating through a reduction reaction. This process is essentially a redox reaction driven by electric energy. By controlling the current density, the thickness and compactness of the coating can be precisely adjusted to ensure a balance between electrical conductivity and mechanical strength. As a leader in the industry, JIATEL has a profound understanding of the core of electroplating principles. Relying on an advanced R & D team and mature technical systems, JIATEL applies these principles to the extreme, creating POGOPIN products with excellent performance for customers.
- Anode: It is divided into soluble anodes (such as nickel blocks and gold plates) and insoluble anodes. The former continuously releases metal ions to replenish the electroplating solution, while the latter only transfers electrons to maintain the stability of ion concentration.
- Electroplating Solution: It contains metal salts (such as nickel sulfate and potassium gold cyanide), conductive salts, buffers, etc., providing a medium for ion migration and regulating the pH value and conductivity at the same time.
- Power Supply System: The deposition rate is controlled by adjusting the current. For example, a low current density (0.1 – 1A/dm²) is used during gold plating to ensure a delicate coating, and a slightly higher current (1 – 5A/dm²) is applied during nickel plating to increase hardness.
- Water Washing Process: Washing before plating removes oil stains and oxide films, and washing after plating clears residual chemical solutions to prevent corrosion and coating defects.
In the electroplating process, JIATEL conducts strict screening and optimization of each key component, adopting high-precision power supply systems and specially formulated electroplating solutions to ensure the stability and efficiency of the electroplating process.
| Coating Material |
Hardness (HV) |
Core Functions |
Color |
Typical Scenarios |
Reliability Guarantee |
| Gold (Au) |
200 |
Low impedance, oxidation resistance, easy soldering |
Gold |
High-frequency signal transmission (such as charging contacts of TWS earphones) |
Salt spray corrosion resistance report for 48 hours |
| Silver (Ag) |
150 |
Ultra-low resistance (optimal conductivity) |
Silver |
High-current connections (such as power connectors) |
Requires anti-oxidation coating |
| Nickel (Ni) |
150 |
Low-cost base layer, enhancing coating adhesion |
Silver |
Basic protective layer (nickel plating after copper plating) |
Resistance to humid heat environment test |
| Palladium-Cobalt (Pd-Co) |
600 – 800 |
Replacing nickel layer, improving signal stability |
Silver |
Precision electronic components (such as probes of smartwatches) |
48-hour resistance to artificial sweat report |
| Rhodium-Ruthenium (Rh-Ru) |
800 – 1000 |
Resistance to friction and electrolysis in extreme environments |
Silver-white |
Industrial equipment, aerospace connectors |
30-round electrolytic corrosion resistance certification |
With years of industry experience, JIATEL provides personalized coating selection solutions according to different customer needs. Whether it is a gold coating that pursues cost-effectiveness or a rhodium-ruthenium coating suitable for extreme environments, JIATEL can meet customers’ strict requirements for POGOPIN performance.
For high-reliability requirements, a composite coating of “copper + gold + palladium + gold + platinum” (hardness 1000 – 2000HV) is used. Through the design of a multi-layer structure, the dual optimization of low impedance and electrolytic corrosion resistance is achieved, which is suitable for high-precision scenarios such as 5G communication equipment and medical electronics, and a complete electrolytic corrosion resistance reliability test report can be provided. JIATEL continues to innovate in composite coating technology, developing more efficient and stable processes to provide reliable guarantees for the connections of high-end electronic devices.
- Cold Degreasing: An alkaline solution (such as sodium hydroxide) is used to remove surface oil stains, ensuring coating adhesion.
- Hot Degreasing: Degreasing is strengthened at high temperature (50 – 70°C) to remove stubborn oil stains and mold release agent residues.
- Activation Treatment: The oxide film on the copper substrate is removed by a dilute sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid solution, exposing the fresh metal surface and improving coating adhesion.
In each pretreatment process, JIATEL strictly controls the process parameters, using advanced equipment and high-quality chemical reagents to lay a solid foundation for subsequent coating deposition.
- Nickel Plating Layer: An amino sulfonic acid nickel electrolyte is used, with a current density of 2 – 3A/dm², and a nickel layer of 1 – 3μm is deposited as a transition layer between the copper substrate and the precious metal layer, enhancing corrosion resistance.
- Gold Plating Layer: In a potassium gold cyanide system electrolyte, a gold layer of 0.1 – 1μm is deposited at a low current density (0.5A/dm²) to ensure that the contact resistance is < 50mΩ and meet the requirements of the salt spray test.
JIATEL has a high-precision electroplating production line, which monitors and adjusts the coating deposition process in real-time to ensure that the coating of each POGOPIN product is uniform and dense, reaching industry-leading standards.
- Multi-stage Water Washing: A countercurrent rinsing technique is used to ensure that the content of residual chemical solutions is < 0.1%, avoiding potential electrochemical corrosion hazards.
- Drying and Cooling: Hot air circulation drying is carried out at 50 – 80°C, and the moisture content on the coating surface is controlled to be < 0.5% to prevent water vapor residue.
- Full Inspection and Packaging: Equipment such as an X-ray thickness gauge (accuracy ±0.05μm) and a contact resistance tester (resolution 0.1mΩ) are used to eliminate defective products with uneven coating thickness and surface defects.
JIATEL has established a complete quality inspection system. From the incoming inspection of raw materials to the delivery of finished products, each link is strictly inspected to ensure that every POGOPIN product delivered to customers meets high-quality standards.
The low resistivity of gold and silver coatings (gold: 2.4μΩ·cm, silver: 1.6μΩ·cm) ensures that the high-frequency signal attenuation is < 3%, and the temperature rise is < 10°C in high-current scenarios, meeting the requirements of high-speed data and power transmission in the 5G era. JIATEL’s POGOPIN products excel in impedance optimization, effectively ensuring the stability of signal and current transmission in electronic devices.
Hard coatings such as palladium-cobalt and rhodium-ruthenium, through nanocrystalline structure design, can withstand more than 100,000 wear cycles, show no corrosion after a 48-hour salt spray test, and no discoloration after a 48-hour artificial sweat immersion test, making them suitable for harsh scenarios such as sports earphones and outdoor equipment. With excellent corrosion and wear resistance, JIATEL’s products can still maintain stable operation in complex environments, winning the trust of numerous customers.
The nickel layer, as an intermediate layer, effectively prevents the copper substrate from coming into contact with the external environment, preventing discoloration of the coating caused by the migration of copper ions. At the same time, the control of coating uniformity (thickness tolerance ±5%) avoids local corrosion hazards. In product design, JIATEL fully considers the importance of structural protection. Through reasonable coating design and precise process control, the service life of the product is extended.
The mirror effect of the gold coating (gloss > 80%) enhances the product’s texture. Meanwhile, it is compatible with soldering processes such as reflow soldering and wave soldering, with a soldering defect rate < 0.1%, meeting the appearance and process requirements of high-end electronic devices. JIATEL pays attention to both product appearance design and functional adaptability, providing customers with POGOPIN products that combine beauty and practicality.
- TWS Earphone Charging Case: Gold-plated POGOPIN ensures charging stability, and the sweat-resistant design extends the service life.
- Smartwatch Probes: The palladium-cobalt coating balances signal transmission and wearing comfort, passing 100,000 insertion and extraction tests.
JIATEL’s POGOPIN products are widely used in the consumer electronics field. With their high quality and stability, they provide reliable connection solutions for many well-known brand products.
- Industrial Control Connectors: The rhodium-ruthenium coating can withstand high-humidity and dusty environments, with a threefold increase in electrolytic corrosion resistance.
- Automotive Battery Connections: Composite coatings meet the requirements of high-current (> 50A) conduction and pass the high-temperature (125°C) aging test.
In the fields of industrial and automotive electronics, JIATEL’s products have successfully met the challenges of various extreme environments with their excellent performance, becoming a trusted partner in the industry.
- Medical Device Probes: Nickel-free coatings (such as pure gold and palladium alloys) avoid allergic risks, and biocompatibility has passed the ISO10993 certification.
- Aerospace Plugs: The multi-layer coating structure resists low temperatures (-55°C) at high altitudes and electromagnetic interference, ensuring zero errors in signal transmission.
In high-demand fields such as medical and aerospace, JIATEL provides POGOPIN products that meet the requirements of precision and safety, relying on professional technology and strict quality control.
The electroplating process of POGOPIN is not just a surface treatment. It is a systematic optimization of properties such as conductivity, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance through the combination of materials science and electrochemistry. JIATEL has been deeply engaged in the POGOPIN electroplating field for many years. From basic principles to coating selection, from process control to quality control standards, every aspect is refined to provide customers with comprehensive electroplating solutions. Choosing JIATEL means choosing professional and reliable POGOPIN products, injecting long-lasting and stable core competitiveness into high-end electronic devices.
For more information on JIATEL’s customized POGOPIN electroplating solutions, please feel free to contact us for free technical consultation and reliability test reports.
