Contact cleaner

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 <a href="/facts/Corrosion/lIC7H4we">oxides</a> or other unwanted substances on the <a href="/facts/Electrical_contact/eELyUxrd">conductive surfaces</a> of <a href="/facts/Electrical_connector/rJh0cHs6">connectors</a>, <a href="/facts/Switch/vqbNDgYm">switches</a>, and other electronic components with moving surface-contacts, and thus reduce the <a href="/facts/Contact_resistance/m0D7MTpj">contact resistance</a> encountered. The use of contact cleaner can help to minimize the <a href="/facts/Wetting_current/pKEXe4q6">wetting current</a> across a pair of contacts.
An example of a simple contact-cleaner is <a href="/facts/Isopropyl_alcohol/7KqgIkUd">isopropyl alcohol</a>.
Some contact-cleaners are designed to <a href="/facts/Evaporation/tgvIlJys">evaporate</a> completely and rapidly, leaving no residue. Others may contain lubricants. Lubricants themselves should not necessarily be used as contact cleaners, especially if they are designed to leave an unsuitable residue. However, appropriate lubricants may work well as contact cleaners.

Contact cleaner open-in-new

Contact cleaner