A Statistical Mechanical Model of Electrical Carbon Fiber Contacts

Abstract

This paper presents a model for electrical carbon fiber contacts. In the model, a statistically distributed fiber length was considered at contact surfaces. A technique of dealing with this kind of contact surfaces with statistically determined, or specifically undeterminable, geometry was developed. The results were compared with the experimental data obtained previously. Also, the contact behaviors of electrical carbon fiber contacts were discussed and some specific contact properties, which were also observed experimentally, were clarified. A contact resistance decreasing rate was defined in a logarithmic-logarithmic scale coordinate. A constant-rate contact region was identified. The objective of this research is to provide a theoretical basis for the contact surface designs of electrical connectors.

Carbon Fiber-Based Grid Array Interconnects

“…Normal force is required to push and retain the carbon fiber contacts against metal pads and ensure they remain in contact. A soft, brush-like surface can be designed into the carbon fiber contacts which may be preferred to achieve a lower electrical contact resistance, as opposed to a harder, rigid surface which is also possible [10], [25], [26].…”

“…Applying a flame to the surface can effectively remove the resin matrix near the surface and free the fibers in that region, and therefore results in a soft surface which leads to a low contact resistance. Xie and Pecht [25], [26] developed a model to describe the contact resistance behavior of CFC contacts.…”