Plating is the depositing of an adherent metal onto the surface of a base metal. This depositing is accomplished on industrial parts by means of electroplating or hot dipping. These methods are the most commonly used on industrial parts because they can be accomplish in bulk cost competitive processes. Other methods of depositing adherent metal to a part such as spraying molten metal, metalizing, d-gun, chemical vapor deposition, enameling, and metal coating are expensive due to cost associated with setup and process equipment.

Electroplating is one of the most common methods of plating. This process is done in a water-based solution. Chemical compounds of a metal are deposited in the water-based solution. Parts to be plated are submerged into a tank containing this solution. As an electrical current is introduced to the solution, the plating metal precipitates out and is collected on the part to be plated. Strength of the solution and plating time affect the amount of plate that is deposited on the part.

Large volume parts may be placed in a non-metal mesh barrel and placed into the plating tank. The barrel is rotated and parts are exposed to the solution on a uniform basis. This process can cause damage to parts as they bump and knock one another during the plating operation. It is wise to barrel plate small parts only in this process. Another process used prior to the immersion of parts in the plating solution is to place them individually on a rack. The rack is lowered into the solution for plating. This process is more expensive because each part must be individual handled twice in the racking process (placing it on the rack and taking it off).

The process of mechanically depositing a metal coating onto a parts surface is accomplished by a high impact of the plating material. The plating material is propelled by means of a spray gun or explosion. This high impact cold-welds the material to the parts surface. The majority of all LYN-TRON’s finishes use an electroplating process.

Care must be taken in the manufacture of precision electronic hardware that is to be plated. Because plating will produce a layer of material onto the part being plated, the part may have to be manufactured to a pre-plate tolerance. These parts need to be quality checked with pre-plate gages to assure manufacturing within tolerances.

Inferior or bad plating may be chemically stripped and the part replated. When a part is stripped and replated, the stripping process must be watched closely to assure that base metal is not stripped off during the process.

Anodize

Acid Electrolyte treatment which penetrates the metal and builds up
Rough-etched appearance, hard oxide surface
Used on aluminum
Excellent corrosion and abrasion resistance
Non-conductive

Bright dip

An Acid bath etching process
Used on brass parts
Process removes any metal particulate that may be on the part.

Cadmium

Cadmium can be electroplated on most metals
It is commonly used on brass and steel
Appearance is very bright usually gold
LYN-TRON offers a type II with a supplementary chromate treatment
Cadmium offers excellent corrosion protection
It offers excellent protection in marine environments
Should not be exposed to continuous temperatures of over 150 degrees F.
Non magnetic and cannot be soldered
This plating has been used as a suitable alternative to E-nickel or zinc plating.

Caustic Etched

An acid bath process primarily used on aluminum

Chemical Film

This process is used on aluminum
Parts are dipped in a chemical
Process makes no dimension changes in the part
It offers good corrosion resistance and is electrically conductive
Abrasion resistance is poor with this finish
Common brand names are Iridite and Alodine.
LYN-TRON uses 14-2 Iridite. This finish is gold unless otherwise requested.

Copper

Copper plating is primary used as an undercoat to improve adhesion and to prevent impurities forming on the base metal and migrating through.
Can affect solderability.
Can be done to most metals
Offers only fair resistance to corrosion

Electro Tin*

Electroplated tin provides very good resistance to corrosion.
When applied to a proper thickness this finish meets a 24 hour 20% salt spray requirement.
Can be soldered
Is ductile
Available either bright or dull finishes
Bright tin looks cosmetically better then dull tin and has better corrosion resistance. When exposed to low temperatures (-40 degree F) this finish changes structure and loses adhesion.

*The expected shelf life of Electro Tin is approximately six months from the date plated. To ensure maximum shelf life -- parts should be sealed in an airtight container with desiccant.

Nickel

Nickel provides a silver finish and can be plated on most metals
Offers very good resistance to corrosion
Can deposited in either a soft or hard finish (dull or bright)
Corrosion resistance is a function of plate thickness
Some forms of this finish may be slightly magnetic.

Bright -- a Bright Nickel finish has a very clean bright silver finish. It is harder than ductile nickel and offers high abrasion resistance. This plating can be uneven and is not recommended for parts with a blind hole.
Ductile- Ductile Nickel has a dull finish. It is ductile and is very good for swaging
Electroless - (E-nickel) Electroless nickel is not magnetic and builds up evenly on a part. This finish plates uniformly in recesses and cavities. It is good for male/female parts and blind holes.

Passivate

Chemical treatment used on Stainless Steel
Process makes no dimension changes in the part
Treatment removes iron particles and creates an etched passive surface. (Nitric acid -- dissolve's iron)
Process purifies the surface and improves corrosions resistance.

Silver

This is an expensive finish
Provides excellent electrical conductivity
Soft and solderable.

Solder*

Soldered finish offers the best solderability
Can be fused
Non-magnetic
60% tin, 40% lead
Should not be used on parts of irregular configuration or those with deep recesses.

*The expected shelf life of Solder is approximately six months from the date plated. To ensure maximum shelf life -- parts should be sealed in an airtight container with desiccant.

Zinc

Corrosion resistant
Conductive
Inexpensive
Can be applied in a wide range of thickness
In time this finish will weather and turn to a drab gray color

Black Oxide

Finish is mostly decorative
Has limited corrosion protection in mild conditions
Dimensional changes are immeasurable.

Finish Code	Finish Description	Aluminum	Brass	Nylon	Stainless Steel	Steel	RoHS Compliant
00	Plain - None
01	Passivate MIL-F-14072-E300
02	Caustic Etch
03	Bright Dip ? Brass
111	Dark Grey Anodize -- Type 2
12	Anodize - Clear - Type II Sulphuric Hot Water Seal - MIL-A-8625C
13	Anodize - Yellow Green - Type II Sulphuric Dichromate Seal - MIL-A-8625C
14	Anodize - Black - MIL-A-8625C
15	Semi-Frost Anodize - Clear (Handles Only)
16	Semi-Frost Anodize - Black (Handles Only)
17	Satin Anodize ? Clear (Handles Only)
18	Satin Anodize ? Black (Handles Only)
19	Bright Anodize ? Black High Luster (Handles Only)
21	Iridite - Clear -MIL-C-5541
22	Iridite - Gold #14 - MIL-C-5541
25	Chem Film - Clear (In lieu of Iridite Clear)
26	Chem Film -?Yellow (In lieu of Iridite Yellow)
31	Cadmium Clear Chromate - QQ-P-416, CL 2
32	Cadmium - Color Chromate - QQ-P-416, CL 2
33	Black Zinc
34	Zinc Clear Chromate - QQ-Z-325, Type II, CL 3
35	Zinc QQ-Z-325, Type I, CL 3
36	Zinc - Yellow Chromate - QQ-Z-325, Type II, CL 3
37	Zinc Yellow (Tri Valent)
38	Zinc?Black (Tri Valent)
42	Electro Tin MIL-T-10727, Type I (Dull)
43	Electro Tin MIL-T-10727 C, Type I (Bright)
44	Electro Tin (Solder) MIL-F-14072 M230/M222
48	Copper / Nickel / Bright Tin
50	Black Oxide MIL-C-13924 ? Steel
51	Black Oxide MIL-F-495 ? Brass
52	Black Oxide MIL-C-13924 ? Stainless Steel
61	Nickel QQ-N-290 CL 1, Type VI KC
62	Black Nickel (Handles Only)
63	Ductile Nickel
66	Electroless Nickel
71	Chrome QQ-C-320 CL 1, Type 1 ? Bright (Handles Only)
72	Chrome QQ-C-320 CL 1, Type 1 ? Satin (Handles Only)
91	Silver QQ-S-365

6001 S. Thomas Mallen Rd. • Spokane, Washington 99224-9406
(800) 423-2734 • (509) 456-4545 • Fax: (509) 456-0946
www.lyntron.com • info@lyntron.com

© Copyright 2001, 2005. Lyn-Tron, Inc. All Rights Reserved.