The process used in electroplating is called electro deposition. The part to be plated is the cathode of the circuit. In one technique, the anode is made of the metal to be plated on the part. Both components are immersed in a solution called an electrolyte containing one or more dissolved metal salts as well as other ions that permit the flow of electricity. A power supply supplies a direct current to the anode, oxidizing the metal ions that it comprises and allowing them to dissolve in the solution. At the cathode, the dissolved metal ions in the electrolyte solution are reduced at the interface between the solution and the cathode, such that they ‘plate out’ onto the cathode. The rate at which the anode is dissolved is equal to the rate at which the cathode is plated, vis-a-vis the current through the circuit. In this manner, the ions in the electrolyte bath are continuously replenished by the anode.
SPL is the region’s leader in Cadmium plating. Cadmium plating gives a silvery white metallic appearance with excellent corrosion resistance. The metal is also reasonably hard and very ductile therefore making it useful as a coating for work that requires flexibility.
Copper plating is the process in which a layer of copper is deposited on the item to be plated by using an electric current. At SPL, we offer a cyanide process. Copper is used as an undercoat or as a mask, prior to nitriding.
Hard chrome is used to reduce friction, improve durability through abrasion tolerance and wear resistance in general. We offer the following different Chrome
Nickel electroplating is a process of depositing nickel on a metal part. Parts to be plated must be clean and free of dirt, corrosion, and defects before plating can begin. To clean and protect the part during the plating process, a combination of heat treating, cleaning, masking, pickling, and etching may be used.
Silver has excellent lubrication and anti-galling properties. The even white matt coating produced is used extensively in high performance applications to prevent assemblies of similar materials from welding’ together thus allowing easy disassembly for servicing. Silver is particularly effective where threaded stainless steel components are assembled in high temperature applications.
The tin-plating process is used extensively to protect both ferrous and nonferrous surfaces. Tin is a useful metal for the food processing industry since it is non-toxic, ductile and corrosion resistant. The excellent ductility of tin allows a tin coated base metal sheet to be formed into a variety of shapes without damage to the surface tin layer. It provides sacrificial protection for copper, nickel, and other non-ferrous metals, but not for steel. Tin is also widely used in the electronics industry because of its ability to protect the base metal from oxidation thus preserving its solderability.
Zinc coatings prevent oxidation of the protected metal by forming a barrier and by acting as a sacrificial anode if this barrier is damaged. Zinc oxide is a Fine white dust that (in contrast to iron oxide) does not cause a breakdown of the substrate’s surface integrity as it is formed. Indeed, zinc oxide, if undisturbed, can act as a barrier to further oxidation, in a way similar to the protection afforded to aluminium and stainless steels by their oxide layers. The majority of hardware parts are zinc plated, rather than cadmium plated.
In-house masking design and manufacture capability
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