Buyer guide
Bimetal vs Solid vs Trimetal Contact Rivets
Three contact-rivet structures, three ways to arrange the working material.
For purchasing and engineering teams comparing a contact rivet for an electrical assembly.
Where does the contact material need to work?
The contact face carries out the electrical switching duty. The shank also has a mechanical job: locating the part and securing it in the assembly. Choosing a rivet structure starts with understanding these two functions.
Material layout, the required contact surfaces and the finished assembly interface help distinguish solid, bimetal and trimetal designs.
Swipe the table horizontally to see all columns.
| Structure | Material position and working faces | Assembly features |
|---|---|---|
| Solid | One specified material throughout head and shank | Head profile and shank form define the installation interface |
| Bimetal | Silver or silver-alloy working layer at the head; copper base and shank | Specify head-face coverage, layer position and shank geometry |
| Trimetal | Additional contact-material layer at another working end, according to the Type A/B arrangement | Specify both working faces, layer layout and forming features |
See where the contact material sits
Solid
- Working contact face
- Same specified material through the head and shank
One specified material forms both the head and the shank.
Product photograph
Bimetal
- Silver or silver-alloy contact layer
- Copper base and shank
A contact layer at the head is joined to a copper base and shank.
Product photograph
Trimetal · one arrangement
- Contact layer at the head
- Copper-based intermediate and shank
- Additional contact layer at the shank end
Contact material is placed at the head and at an additional working end.
Product photograph
Compare the same head-and-shank outline. The material position changes; the photographs show examples from each product family.
For trimetal rivets, specify the Type A/B arrangement and contact-layer thickness on the drawing.
Solid: one specified material through the part
A solid contact rivet is formed from one specified material through its head and shank. Head profiles and shank forms can still differ: a flat head, rounded head or short shank creates a different assembly interface.
Compare the contact material, forming requirements, finished surface and method of installation together.
Bimetal: contact head and base shank
A bimetal contact rivet combines a silver or silver-alloy contact head with a copper base shank. The contact layer is placed at the working head, while the shank provides the required supporting and joining geometry.
Head diameter, shank diameter, head profile and contact-layer arrangement are related parts of the same design. The reference combinations on the product page help describe that relationship.
Trimetal: contact material on additional working faces
A trimetal contact rivet uses a three-part arrangement for designs that need contact material on more than one face or at the shank end. The location of those working surfaces is the useful starting point.
Type A and Type B arrangements have different layer layouts and geometry. Compare the complete structure rather than the word trimetal alone.
Bring the structure back to the assembly
A useful comparison connects the contact surface to the way the rivet is held and used. These questions help narrow the starting structure:
- Which faces perform the electrical contact function?
- What load and contact material are involved?
- How do the head and shank fit the support?
- What changes during forming, riveting and final assembly?
- Which dimensions and surface features must repeat in production?