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Zinc
Plating is a very popular coating for use over steel to prevent red
rust. Salt Spray testing is normally used to determine the
amount of corrosion protection. Thicker Zinc Plating
increases corrosion protection. Plating specifications
usually specify the minimum Zinc thickness, the desired
Chromate Color, and the Salt Spray requirements. These
requirements are logged into our database for each customer
part number, are converted to a traveler, and stays
with each lot from start to finish. This traveler collects
traceable quality data for customers on each lot as well as
communicating customer requirements to the operator.
The
Chromate coating over Zinc plating is used to substantially
increase corrosion protection, and it also substantially increases
plating appearance. All three popular chromate colors are
available at Technical Plating, and they are all Trivalent
Chromates.
Technical
Plating is unlike most plating companies by providing all three popular
Chromate Colors, which are Clear, Yellow and Black. Black
Chromate supplies the most corrosion protection, Clear
Chromate supplies the least protection, and Yellow Chromate
is demand most and supplies excellent corrosion
protection. Our chromate chemicals are specially selected
to supply the best plating appearance for our customers. Other
chromate choices platers have don’t have our plating
appearance and corrosion protection.
IMPORTANT: If the purchaser only specifies zinc plating,
the plater will make choices the purchaser may prefer to
make. FOR EXAMPLE: There are Cyanide, Chloride and
Alkaline Zinc Plating processes used by platers, which are
very different. Additionally there is Rack and Barrel
plating for each of these three processes. We will evaluate
your part to determine what is best for your needs.
Zinc
Plating Choices
Cyanide
Zinc Plating is virtually extinct for obvious environmental
reasons. We do not offer this option.
Chloride
Zinc Plating is very available but has important
shortcomings: Concave surfaces of a part won’t get much
zinc plating thickness, and convex surfaces will get much
more thickness due to Faraday’s law of Electro physics. The
color chromate, which is on top of zinc plating, is less
likely to adhere well.
Alkaline
Zinc Plating provides the most uniform plating thickness
throughout the contour of any part. Much more even zinc
thickness is the key to good corrosion protection
throughout all surfaces of plated parts. The chromate
overcoat is important because it supplies much of the
corrosion protection. Chromate Adhesion to Alkaline Zinc is
inherently superior compared to Chloride Zinc. Alkaline
Zinc is just as economic as Chloride and is the best quality
choice in most cases.
Summary of
Zinc Plating by Technical Plating
Alkaline
Zinc Plating is our highest volume and the absolute best for
corrosion protection on most customer products. It costs no
more for the best.
Technical
Plating has
Chloride Zinc Plating, which is best when plating castings
and hardened steel.
We supply
Rack and Barrel Zinc Plating per what is best for
you…Alkaline or Chloride Zinc Plating. Chemicals for all
three chromate colors are specially selected for best
plating appearance. You won’t find a better appearing Black
or Yellow Zinc finish.
Technical Plating also
provides Tin, Silver and Copper Plating services.
Please
contact Technical Plating and we will advise what is best
for your situation. |
