Niobium and tantalum are refractory metals with a growing role in technology. In the interconnect industry, the importance of these materials is growing as semiconductor nodes continue to shrink. Article Contributed By Materion Niobium (Nb) and tantalum (Ta) are refractory metals with a growing role across some of the most technically demanding industries in theRead More

In harsh environment conditions, connector gaskets provide protection against a variety of hazards that can put connections at risk. Connector gaskets are sealing components installed between connector mating or mounting surfaces to provide environmental protection, electromagnetic shielding, or both. They compensate for surface irregularities and maintain sealing integrity under mechanical stress, vibration, thermal cycling, andRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights materials for interconnects from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Materials for Interconnects Anderson Power connectors can be upgraded with a chemical-resistant (CR) housing for enhanced environmental durability and an extended temperature range. CR housings provide improved resistance to UV rays, as well as common solvents and hydrocarbons. Powerpole, SB, SBS,Read More

New-to-market connectivity products, including interconnects, wire, cable, and cable assemblies, sensors, antennas, materials, accessories, tools, and development kits. June 2026 New Connectivity Products June 2026 New Connectivity Products > Interconnects, etc. Samtec’s new high-frequency, 50 Ohm impedance, SMA edge-mount board connector delivers repeatable, reliable performance through 26.5 GHz. The edge-mount design terminates directly to the PCB edge, providing a compact signal path that minimizes discontinuitiesRead More

Approaching the physical limits of traditional silicon chip technology, many predicted we would soon witness the death of Moore’s law. Multi-chip advanced packaging and the rise of silicon photonics offer a path to resuscitation. Not long ago, the consensus among many engineers was that the practical limits of shrinking semiconductor chip features had been reached,Read More

Adding EMI shielding to connectors prevents electromagnetic noise from becoming a problem. Signal speeds in all types of electronic devices have been getting faster and faster as devices from smartphones to medical equipment to automobiles process greater volumes of data. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is a type of unwanted noise in an electrical net generated byRead More

New processes and products are leading the way as the connector industry looks for solutions to the problem of electronics waste. Electronic waste (e-waste) is the world’s fastest growing solid waste stream and its harms include the introduction of as many as 1,000 different chemical substances into the environment, including microplastics, neurotoxins, and airborne particulateRead More

Meet the Connector: Heat sinks Heat sinks provide thermal management in electronic or mechanical devices for components that can’t sufficiently dissipate heat to moderate temperature. For example, they are used to cool central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) in computers, with power transistors and other high-power semiconductor devices, and for optoelectronics suchRead More

This week’s Product Roundup highlights materials for connectors from leading connector manufacturers and suppliers. Materials for connectors RF connectors are available in a variety of materials to suit the usage requirements and the application’s operating environment. Brass is the most common base material but those made with stronger base materials, such as stainless steel, generallyRead More

When failure is especially costly, operations demand high reliability. Designers, engineers, and suppliers are always on the search for materials that perform well under extreme conditions. Many applications subject connectors to very high pressures and high temperatures while requiring them to maintain functionality and performance for extended periods of time. When failure is especially costly,Read More

The search for lead alternatives has brought great innovation to metal work for use in electronics. Learn about advanced machining processes that produce high-quality, precision connector components. By Massimiliano Domeniconi, Vice President of Machine Sales, Mikron Corp. A few years ago, when the first stages of the European environmental law RoHS (Restriction of Certain HazardousRead More

What doesn’t break metals makes them stronger. Learn how the strategic application of stress increases strain hardening and strength in metals. Strain hardening is a common method for improving the strength of an alloy. This process, also called cold work and work hardening, uses deformation to increase the strength of the metal. By subjecting theRead More