What is Hard Gold

What is Hard Gold

Hard gold is a surface finish that involves plating a layer of gold onto the surface of a printed circuit board, with the addition of hardeners to enhance its durability. This type of gold plating is specifically applied to high-wear areas of the PCB, such as edge connectors.

Using hard gold provides a reliable and long-lasting connection for the metal contacts on the PCB. Gold is chosen for its excellent conductivity and corrosion resistance, making it an ideal material for plating circuit boards. By incorporating hardeners into the gold plating, the durability of the surface finish is further improved, ensuring a prolonged lifespan for the PCB.

Hard gold is not suitable for solderable areas of the PCB due to its high cost and poor solderability. In these areas, alternative surface finishes like HASL or ENIG are commonly used. However, Its robust nature makes it resistant to wear and tear caused by repeated mating and unmating of connectors, making it an ideal choice for industrial equipment or automotive electronics.