styki

Styki are electrical contacts that form a conductive connection between parts of a circuit within equipment such as switches, relays, and connectors. They serve to establish and maintain an electrical path when mating surfaces touch and to break that path when separated.

Contacts can be fixed or movable. Fixed contacts remain stationary, while movable or spring-loaded contacts are actuated by a mechanism and may be designed for repeated make-and-break cycles. Common geometries include blade, pin, socket, or mushroom-shaped contacts, chosen to suit current, voltage, and mechanical requirements.

Materials and coatings are selected to balance conductivity, strength, wear resistance, and corrosion protection. Base materials are typically copper or copper alloys. Surfaces are often plated or coated with silver or silver alloys to reduce contact resistance, sometimes gold or tin for corrosion resistance in certain environments. In vacuum or high-temperature applications, carbon-based or other specialized coatings may be used to reduce wear and sticking.

Performance and reliability depend on contact resistance, surface finish, alignment, and contact force. Resistance can increase due to oxidation, contamination, or wear, while excessive force may cause piecewise wear or deformation. Arcing is a concern at higher currents or voltages, and proper contact geometry, coatings, and insulation help mitigate it. Fretting wear under vibration and repeated cycling is another common failure mode that designers address with material choice, seating force, and appropriate damping.

Applications span automotive connectors, electrical switches and relays, consumer electronics, industrial equipment, and instrumentation. Maintenance typically involves cleaning or replacing worn or oxidized contacts and verifying low resistance and good insulation through testing.