Introducing I-PEX’s High-Temperature Connector Products

I-PEX offers high-temperature resistant products that can be guaranteed to operate at temperatures up to 105℃ and 125℃.

In recent years, high heat and high vibration resistance were important for connectors used in automotive and industrial equipment, but these characteristics have also become increasingly important in consumer equipment as well, while equipment and systems have become smaller and more sophisticated. One example is "Mini-LED" backlight technology, in which several thousand micron-sized miniature LEDs are arranged on a highly transparent glass substrate for use in LCD TV backlighting. Compared to conventional LED backlights arranged on printed circuit boards, Mini-LEDs are more efficient, brighter, and have a longer life span. However, the large number of LEDs required and the large number of electronic components densely packed in the control area raise the ambient temperature, leading to an increase in overall heat density. Therefore, connectors must have sufficient heat resistance.

This article introduces the product series best suited for each application that requires high-temperature resistance.

 

Matrix of high-temperature resistance recommended connectors

Product type Micro-Coaxial Connectors RF / Coaxial Connectors
Product Name CABLINE®-VS II CABLINE®-CA II CABLINE®-CA II PLUS CABLINE®-UM MHF®-TI
  CABINE-VS II CABLINE-CA II CABLINE-CA II PLUS CABLINE-UM_WithLOCK

 

MHF TI
Heat resistance 105 105 105 105 105
Pitch 0.5 mm 0.4 mm 0.4 mm 0.4 mm -
Height (MAX) 1.2 mm 1.1 mm 1.2 mm 2.35 mm 3.65 mm
Depth 6.7 mm 6.2 mm 6.7 mm 5.0 mm -

 

Product type FPC/FFC Connectors
Product Name MINIFLEX® 5-BFN II MINIFLEX® 5-BFN II LK MINIFLEX® 5-FF EVAFLEX® 5-VS EVAFLEX® 5-SE-G VT EVAFLEX® 5-SE
  5-BFN II 5-BFN II LK 5-FF 5-VS 5-SE-G VT 5-SE
Heat resistance 125 125 125℃* 105 125 FFC85
FPC125
Pitch 0.5 mm 0.5 mm 0.5 mm 0.5 mm 0.5 mm 0.5 mm
Height (MAX) 1.1 mm 1.1 mm 2.75 mm 2.0 mm 6.9 mm 2.7 mm
Depth 3.5 mm 4.0 mm 7.2 mm 4.97 mm 4.1 mm 6.1 mm

 

Product type Power Connectors / Terminal Connectors
Product Name ISH® AP Series
Type Horizontal Horizontal Type-Hybrid Vertical Wire to Wire Vertical
  ISH ISH ISH ISH AP
Heat resistance 125 125 125 125 105
Pitch 2.0 mm Signal: 2.0 mm
Power: 3.8 mm
2.0 mm 2.0 mm -
Height (MAX) (1 row) 7.4 mm
(2 rows) 10.9 mm
13.6 mm 20.75 mm (1 row) 8.0 mm
(2 rows) 11.7 mm
13.6 ~ 16.1 mm
16.1 ~ 23.1 mm

(*Only Specified Products)

Features of I-PEX high-temperature connectors

I-PEX has designed high-temperature connectors by making full use of our vast  experience, so that they can be used safely even in severe environments where high temperatures and long hours of operation are anticipated.


1)    Material Selection


I-PEX selects materials with excellent workability, dielectric properties, and thermal conductivity, as well as stress relaxation characteristics that stabilize spring characteristics even in high-temperature use environments, and materials that can ensure consistent contact. Most of our products are made of phosphor bronze contact material, but we also use Corson alloy for high-temperature products, which is a stronger material without sacrificing the high electrical and thermal conductivity inherent in copper.


2)    Design


To obtain stable electrical contact, a certain level of contact pressure is required between mutual contacts. The contacts are made of a metal material and are designed in a spring shape. We focus on designing connectors that make good use of spring characteristics so that they can return to their original position and maintain contact force even during connector insertion,  removal operations and stress relaxation.
Typical example: EVAFLEX® 5-SE-GVT
 

spring-height.png

The contact shape has sufficient deflection (height) to maintain contact pressure even after stress relaxation.
 

3)    Reliability Test


I-PEX is equipped with the following facilities for mechanical performance and environmental testing, as well as conducting reliability testing.


Reliability Test Facilities

Double Chamber Incubator
Operating Temperature Range:-40℃~ 150℃

Doublechamber-Incubator.png

Rapid-Rate Thermal Cycle Chamber
Operating Temperature Range:-65℃~200℃

Rapid-Rate-Thermal-Cycle-Chamber.png

Compound Environment Test
(Constant temperature and humidity chamber equipment)
Operating Temperature Range: -40℃~ 150℃

Compound-Environment-Test.png

Compound Environment Test
(vibration machine)
 

Compound-Environment-Test-Vibration-Machine.png


Reliability test for high-temperature products

I-PEX conducts the following reliability tests on high-temperature products.

Test Item

Testing Method

Measurements

Mechanical
Performance

Vibration

3 mutually perpendicular directions
2 hours for each direction for a total of 6 hours

Contact resistance
Electrical discontinuity
Appearance

Shock

Max. G:50 G
Direction: 6 mutually perpendicular directions
Cycle: 3cycles for each direction

Contact resistance
Electrical discontinuity
Appearance

Environmental
Performance

Heat Cycling

Standard Test

High Temp Test

Contact resistance
Appearance

Temp :  -10 ⇔ 85℃    
Time : 30mins cycle 

Temp -55 ⇔ +125℃    
Time : 30mins cycle (Transition 5mins. MAX)    
No. of cycle : 100 cycle

High Temp Life

Standard Test

High Temp Resistance Contact resistance
Appearance

Temp : 85 ℃±2 ℃    
Duration : 250 hours

Temp : 125℃±2℃    
Duration : 1000 hours

Humidity
(Steady State)

Temp : 40±2 ℃
Humidity : 90~95% RH
Duration : 240 hours

Contact resistance
Insulation resistance
Electric withstanding voltage
Appearance
Humidity
Cycling)
Temp-10~+65℃
Humidity : 90~98 % RH, 
Cycle : 10 cycle (240 hours)
Contact resistance
Insulation resistance
Electric withstanding voltage
Appearance
Salt Water Spray Temp : 35±2℃、
Salt water density 5±1 % [by weight]
 Duration : 48 hours
Contact resistance
Appearance
H2S Gas Temp : 40±2℃
Humidity : 80±5 % RH
Gas : H2s 3±1 ppm
Duration : 96 hours
Contact resistance
Appearance

(Only Specified Products)

In addition, we will propose more effective test items and measures to meet the customer's requirements for their desired conditions. For connectors that require a high level of reliability, please contact us for information on the appropriate product for your application.