In coastal, outdoor, or industrial chemical environments, the salt spray/salt fog resistance of connectors is directly related to the long-term reliability and maintenance costs of equipment. Based on the product information of Taiwan/China manufacturer Greenconn (Ge Kon Electronics) and industry salt spray test standards, this article analyzes the feasibility and considerations of "can domestic connectors achieve salt spray resistance for 180 hours," providing a reference for procurement and alternative solution assessment.
Greenconn (Gekon) Overview — Designed and Certified for Harsh EnvironmentsGreenconn was established in 1998, with its product line covering board-to-board, wire-to-board, automotive-grade, and waterproof/float series, and it has the capability of vertical integration production and multiple quality systems (such as IATF 16949 for the automotive industry). The official website and company information clearly state that "corrosion-resistant/waterproof/vibration-resistant" are design criteria for automotive, industrial, and outdoor applications.
What is Salt Spray (Neutral Salt Spray) Test? Common Standards and SignificanceSalt spray test, also known as neutral salt spray (NSS) / salt fog, is a method to accelerate the corrosion of materials or coatings in a controlled salt fog environment, in order to evaluate the corrosion resistance of materials or surface treatments. Common specifications include ASTM B117 and IEC 60068-2-11 (salt spray/salt fog test), which specify the test environment, solution ratio, and temperature, but do not fix the required number of hours—test hours are usually determined by product specifications or customer requirements (e.g., 24h/72h/120h/240h and other levels). In other words, whether "passing 180 hours" depends on the combination of materials, coatings, sealing, and electroplating/coating processes.
Key factors for connector to reach 180 hours of salt spray resistanceTo ensure that the connector performs well in salt spray tests (such as no obvious failure after 180 hours), it is usually necessary to comprehensively consider the following items:
●Contact surface material and coating: Gold (Au) or gold-plated contacts are commonly used for low contact resistance and corrosion resistance, but are expensive; nickel (Ni) or electroless nickel plating with gold/tin combination provides a compromise between cost and reliability.
●Outer shell/casing protection and sealing: IP ratings, sealing rings (such as silicone/EPDM) and structural design, capable of preventing salt spray from entering critical contact areas. Certain GT series and waterproof series of Greenconn are marked with IP68 and a wider working temperature range, designed for outdoor/automotive applications.
●Electroplating/Coating Process and Post-Treatment: Special corrosion-resistant coatings or cathodic electroplating, conversion films (such as chromate conversion films) can significantly extend the salt mist resistance time; customized surface treatment is usually more resistant to corrosion than standard treatment, but it will also increase costs and lead times. Industry experience shows that the common salt mist resistance of standard coatings is at the level of several tens of hours; to achieve 120-180 hours or more, most often requires customized processes or more expensive materials.
Four, Can Greenconn products achieve "Made-in-China connectors resistant to salt spray for 180 hours"? Conclusion and suggestionsConclusion (briefly): Technically, domestic connectors (represented by Greenconn) are capable of achieving or customizing to a salt spray level of 180 hours, but whether it reaches this level depends on: the selected series, contact material and plating scheme, shell sealing design, and whether customization of electroplating/post-treatment is accepted. Greenconn publicly claims to have waterproof/anti-corrosion and automotive-grade design (and support customization), so meeting the 180-hour target through a specific process route is feasible, but it needs to be clarified in the procurement contract or sample testing: test standards, criteria for judgment (such as the occurrence of red rust, how much increase in contact resistance is considered不合格), and whether a third-party test report is required.
Actual suggestions (procurement and verification process):
1. During the sample stage, the supplier is required to provide a Salt Spray Test Report for the target part, indicating the standard and evaluation items, such as ASTM B117 or IEC60068-2-11, and a 180-hour test record (or sample tests at each stage).
2. Clarify the contact plating (e.g., Ni+Au, gold plating thickness, substrate) and the shell material and sealing scheme. If the budget is limited, the cost-performance ratio can be improved through local gold plating (contact surface) + corrosion-resistant shell.
Evaluate the differences between long-term field exposure (especially near coastal areas or chemical industrial zones) and laboratory accelerated tests, and conduct long-term field verification of the prototype as necessary.
4. If you wish to further improve the salt spray lifespan, you can negotiate with suppliers for customized coatings or improved electroplating processes, but you need to weigh the cost, delivery time, and batch feasibility (industry experience shows that customized processes will increase time and cost).
Scenario examples (for reference)●Outdoor LED Display/Advertising Box (Coastal Area): It is recommended to choose a housing with IP67/IP68 rating, with contact surfaces treated with electroless nickel plating + gold plating or thick tin plating plus protective paint, and to require a salt spray test report of 120-240 hours in the contract.
●Automotive/diesel equipment (automotive specification): Give priority to suppliers with IATF16949 certified production lines and automotive grade protective series, and require samples to pass the specified salt spray and vibration combined reliability tests.
To achieve "domestic connectors resistant to salt雾 for 180 hours" is not impossible, but it is not the default standard configuration—it requires clear requirements for materials, coatings, sealing, and testing standards, as well as sample verification. Taking Greenconn, such a vertically integrated connector manufacturer, as an example, it is completely feasible to achieve a high level of salt雾 tolerance by customizing electroplating and sealing solutions and coordinating with third-party or in-house salt雾 testing. The procurement party should include the testing specifications in the technical contract and pay attention to batch consistency and process control.
If you are interested in the domestic substitute products of Greenconn brand connectors or have procurement needs, or you have production or sales channels for this brand of connector's domestic substitutes and wish to engage in in-depth cooperation or communication, please contact via the following contact information:
Manager Zhang (18665383950, same WeChat number)Contact us, we look forward to working with more industry partners.
