This paper describes the relationship between the contact resistance of reed switches and material sputtered on to the contact area from the sealed glass tube. As the size of the glass envelope becomes smaller, the contact area of the reed switches comes closer to the seal. When the glass tube is sealed by heating, many kinds of impurities are deposited on the contacts and cause failures. The impurities were found on the Rhodium contacts and the failed contact surface was investigated by X-ray microanalysis. It has been confirmed that the crystals deposited are potassium chloride. These crystals increase the contact resistance during operations.
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