Plating Zinc over Heat Treating
I am not able to plate zinc over an area that has been heat treated. Any suggestions?
Q. I am not able to plate zinc over an area that has been heat treated. Any suggestions? M.M.
A. Without any further information, it is extremely difficult to answer this question. The first question is what is the heat treat environment like (oxidizing, reducing or inert atmosphere)? Unless you have an inert or reducing atmosphere, you likely have a good deal of scale that may be built up on the part. This will require either acid cleaning or mechanical finishing for removal.
What is the quench method (air, oil or water)? The quicker the quench, the more likely you can shock off part of the contamination.
Were parts cleaned before heat treat? If not, an oily residue left behind prior to heat treating will create a surface that is extremely difficult to clean and may take a very long time in a strong acid to clean up. Depending on the heat treatment and the steel (assuming this is steel), you may also carburize the surface, possibly changing surface hardness. Parts should always be cleaned prior to heat treatment.
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.
-
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.
-
An Overview of Electroless Nickel Plating
By definition, electroless plating is metal deposition by a controlled chemical reaction.
