Gold Plating Alternatives for Electronics Manufacturing

While gold plating is often considered the gold standard in electronics manufacturing, the recent surge in prices is causing many manufacturers to look for more cost-effective alternatives.

With high conductivity and strong resistance to oxidation and corrosion, gold is an ideal choice for electronic plating. Gold prices have been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by inflation and increased demand from China. After reaching an all-time high of $2,265 per ounce in April 2024, gold prices remain over $2,000 per ounce.

Palladium Periodic Table

What to Look for in Gold Plating Alternatives

When selecting a substitute metal plating, consider the factors that make gold such a solid choice:

Very conductive for both heat and electricity
Highly resistant to oxidation and corrosion
Non-magnetic
Ideal for environments with high humidity and thermal cycling
Long-lasting

The closest substitutes you’ll find for gold are other metals in the Noble Metals family. Noble metals, including gold, lack chemical reactivity and resist oxidation and corrosion.

Noble Metals

Silver

Highly conductive with good corrosion resistance, Silver is a solid substitute for gold plating. At just under $30 per ounce, silver is significantly more affordable, especially when manufacturing larger components. Silver is also a metallic lubricant, making it ideal for threaded or sliding contacts. However, silver plating forms compounds such as silver sulfide that reduce conductivity.

Palladium

With high electrical and thermal conductivity and strong resistance to corrosion, palladium is emerging as a popular alternative to gold. Harder than gold or silver, palladium has greater resistance to wear and tear. Price-wise, palladium is less expensive than gold but more expensive than silver at just over $900 per ounce. Palladium can also be used as a coating for copper unlike gold, which the copper would diffuse through. These types of coatings give the cheaper metal (copper) the resistant properties of palladium.

However, palladium does not have the same heat resistance as gold and can discolor and deform under extreme heat. Palladium is also susceptible to strong acids and to cracking under stress. To reduce the chances of cracking, palladium is often combined with other metals, such as nickel or cobalt to make a metal alloy. This method also saves money by using less palladium.

Rhodium

Harder than silver, gold, or palladium, Rhodium is highly conductive and is resistant to corrosion, including strong acids. An ideal choice for applications that need good wear resistance and high hardness, Rhodium is less expensive than gold but more expensive than palladium at just under $4,750 per ounce.

Finding the Best Gold Plating Alternative for Your Project

You have many plating options for electronic and electrical connector pins and contacts to choose from besides gold. The best material choice depends on your project specifications and your budget.

The specialists at Bead Electronics can help you find the right gold plating alternative for your connector pins for signal or power applications. We manufacture custom pins and contacts made from wire for end-to-end pins for automatic insertion or in loose piece form. Bead also offers lightweight and robust hollow/tubular pins made from flat stock. We'll help you design the perfect connector pins for your application.