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Copper plate a Type K Thermocouple

We are trying to solder a Type K Thermocouple to copper tabs but finding it very difficult because of the nature of the alloys involved. Were are looking into the feasibility of copper plating a Type K Thermocouple before soldering it to the copper terminals. Do you know if a copper electroplating process or copper sputtering process would bond with Chromel and Alumel metals used in a Type K thermocouple? The alloy components are listed below.

The type k thermocouple is made up of Chromel and Alumel.

Chromel: 90% nickel, 10% chromium
Alumel: 95% nickel, 2& manganese, 2% aluminium and 1% silicon

Do you know of a solution for our requirement?

John Fitzpatrick
Product designer - Indianapolis, Indiana
October 22, 2009

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Copper plating should no be a particular problem but it is a multi-stage process and difficult to control on small wires.
I believe that you could solve your problem by using a suitable flux - speak to your solder supplier.
Alternatively you could consider a crimp connection

Geoff Smith
Hampshire, England
November 2, 2009