Contact-cleaner, also known as switch-cleaner, is a term for a chemical, or a mixture of chemicals, intended to remove or prevent the build-up of oxides or other unwanted substances on the conductive surfaces of connectors, switches, and other electronic components with moving surface-contacts, and thus reduce the contact resistance encountered. [1] [2] [3] The use of contact cleaner can help to minimize the wetting current across a pair of contacts. [4]
An example of a simple contact-cleaner is isopropyl alcohol [ scientific citation needed ]. [5] [2]
Some contact-cleaners are designed to evaporate completely and rapidly, leaving no residue. [6] [7] Others may contain lubricants. [8] [9] Lubricants themselves should not necessarily be used as contact cleaners, especially if they are designed to leave an unsuitable residue. [10] However, appropriate lubricants may work well as contact cleaners. [11]
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires |journal=
(help)