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30 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JUNE 2022 ing finish for this application is ENEPIG. How- ever, if the part is used for high RF (>20 GHz) signal propagation, nickel must be eliminated to avoid signal loss. is makes electroless pal- ladium/immersion gold (EPIG) the appropri- ate alternative. Automotive As electric vehicles continue to grow in pop- ularity, there is great demand for EV surface finishes that provide: • Wear resistance and corrosion resistance • High number of plugging cycles (10K+…) • High electrical and thermal conductivity • Elimination of lubricant • Long-term, stable hardness (1000h → end of life) • Temperature-stable hardness (150°C → 180°C) • Extended contact/connector life Silver is fundamental for electronic com- ponents used in electric vehicles, charging stations, and power grids, but to deliver the capabilities required, silver must be modified. Studies of various alloys found none were able to meet the criteria listed above. One of the ways to achieve the desired per- formance is dispersive plating, specifically with graphite as the dispersion element due to its availability and lower cost compared to alternatives. Dispersing graphite in the silver deposit produced the desired tribology attri- butes (wear friction and lubrication), hardness and conductivity. Chemical suppliers to the electronics indus- try are continuously adapting the plating pro- cesses described to achieve the appropriate thickness of metal or metals (alloy or disper- sion metal) in single or multiple consecutive layers. Meeting the design functionality at the lowest cost will always control the choice of plating material and plating options. PCB007 George Milad is the national accounts manager for technol- ogy at Uyemura. To read past columns or contact Milad, click here. Launched from a rocket strapped to the belly of an aircraft on June 13, 2012, NASA's NuSTAR mission is celebrating 10 years in space. The mission, which detects high-energy X-rays, has made numer- ous discoveries over the years about extreme cosmic objects, including black holes, supernova remnants, pulsars, our own f i e r y s u n , a n d m o r e . I n t h i s v i d e o , t h e m i s sion's principal investi- gator, Fiona Harrison, who is also the Harold A. Rosen Professor of Physics and the Kent and Joyce Kresa Leadership Chair of the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy at Caltech, looks back o n N u S TA R 's j o u r n e y and discusses where the future may lead. (Source: Caltech) NuSTAR Celebrates 10 Years in Space