Black Stains on Zinc-Plated Parts
Our rack alkaline-zinc-plated parts occasionally exhibit black or caustic stains that don’t show up for 24 hours. Can we add anything to our plating solution or rinses to eliminate this condition?
Q. Our rack alkaline-zinc-plated parts occasionally exhibit black or caustic stains that don’t show up for 24 hours. Can we add anything to our plating solution or rinses to eliminate this condition? —W. L.
A. I suspect that your problem is with rinsing after the plating step. The simplest solution is to investigate your rinsing procedures. Consider such things as improved agitation, adding a warm water rinse and perhaps increasing the flow rate in your rinse tanks. I am not a big believer in adding materials to process tanks unless they are absolutely necessary.
Related Content
-
Possibilities From Electroplating 3D Printed Plastic Parts
Adding layers of nickel or copper to 3D printed polymer can impart desired properties such as electrical conductivity, EMI shielding, abrasion resistance and improved strength — approaching and even exceeding 3D printed metal, according to RePliForm.
-
An Overview of Electroless Nickel Plating
By definition, electroless plating is metal deposition by a controlled chemical reaction.
-
3 Tests to Ensure Parts are Clean Prior to Plating
Making sure that all of the pre-processing fluids are removed prior to plating is not as simple as it seems. Rich Held of Haviland Products outlines three tests that can help verify that your parts are clean.
