Joe: You are correct. The porosity of the gold plating is an indication of the exposure of metallic layer under gold to normal corrosive attach. The greater the porosity the greater the corrosion of the underlying metal and the larger the possibility an intermittent or open in the connector system. If you will notice, the Bellcore Table 22 does not state that this as an acceptable or unacceptable level, only as "Typical Pore Counts". Neither do they comment on pore size nor shape. The main purpose of the requirement to assure the plating process remains under control and is monitored once a supplier establishes a porosity "norm". The porosity requirements between a supplier and a customer should be called out in the customer's specification and negotiated with the supplier. Harry \\'''''// (o o) @----oOO---------(_)----------------@ | Harry O'Halloran | | DSC Communications Corporation | | 1000 Coit Road | | Plano, TX 75075-5813 | | Phone: (214) 519-3916 | | [log in to unmask] | @--------------------------oOO------@ | __ | __ | | | | | ooO Ooo ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: gold finger porosity requirements Author: [log in to unmask] at SMTPLINK Date: 6/6/96 9:19 AM Can any one educate me on Porosity requirements for gold fingers? BELLCORE TR-NWT-000078 14.2.2.2 Table 22 calls out ranges of acceptable Pore counts for given gold thicknesses. My question is what is the purpose of pore requirements? Is the implication that if the gold is to porous it is more susceptible to wear out and/or corrosion? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you Joe Pudlo