Brass and Bronze are excellent conductors and easily machined, but the lead and zinc within these alloys can sabotage electroplating. Learn the specific pre-treatment and underplating techniques required for copper alloys.
Steel is the most common substrate for electroplating, but it is highly vulnerable to corrosion. Explore the engineering choices between Zinc, Zinc-Nickel, Nickel, and Copper when plating on carbon and mild steel.
Demystifying the chemistry and application of chromate conversion coatings. Understand how they seal zinc plating, protect bare aluminum (Chem-Film), and why the industry transitioned from hexavalent to trivalent formulations.
Learn how electropolishing reverses the electroplating process to remove microscopic peaks from stainless steel, resulting in a sterile, ultra-smooth, highly corrosion-resistant surface.
Understand the hot black oxide process for steel. Learn why this conversion coating is prized for tight-tolerance tooling, and why it must always be oiled to prevent immediate rusting.
Explore the advanced electrodeposition technique of pulse plating. Learn how modulating the electrical current with milliseconds of "off" time drastically improves coating distribution, hardness, and porosity.