BS EN 16602-70-20:2014

This standard BS EN 16602-70-20:2014 Space product assurance. Determination of the susceptibility of silver-plated copper wire and cable to "red-plague" corrosion is classified in these ICS categories:

• 49.090 On-board equipment and instruments
• 49.140 Space systems and operations

This Standard gives details of an accelerated screening test method and acceptance criteria to determine the suitability of silver­plated wire and cable materials for use on spacecraft and associated equipment. The test method, which also determines the suitability of the associated fabrication processes, is based on the work of Anthony and Brown (1965). They established that “red­plague” originates at breaks in the silver­plating of copper wire strands in the presence of moisture and oxygen. The environmental test system artificially promotes “ red­plague” corrosion under controlled laboratory conditions as a result of galvanic corrosion of the copper conductor core. This standard may be tailored for the specific characteristics and constraints of a space project in conformance with ECSS-S-ST-00.