|
Zinc
Coatings From Best Metal Finishing.
Best Metal
Finishing has the experience and equipment to handle smaller, delicate
parts as well as long, bulkier rack zinc applications.
Zinc plating
is a self sacrificing finish, applied to steel to give corrosive resistance
and a decorative finish. Sacrificial finishes allow the zinc coating to
be attacked by a corrosive element such as moisture, thus protecting the
base steel. Chromate conversion coatings can be completed over the zinc
in various decorative colors that not only look good but also enhance
its protective abilities. The protective nature of zinc plating can be
further increased through the application of seals, waxes or lacquers.
Zinc can also serve as an excellent primer base for painting by adding
corrosive protection without interfering with decorative coloring.
Best
Metal applies zinc plating via two different methods:
Barrel
Zinc — Barrel zinc plating is used to plate small diverse parts.
The parts are placed inside a perforated, rotating barrel for an even
finish. Coating thickness is controlled by load size, current density
applied and duration in the bath. Conversion coatings are applied after
the plating process. Many commercial platers process large loads in massive
machines that roll the parts over and over on a horizontal axis, leading
to potential part damage and bending problems. But not Best Metal Finishing.
Our process is designed to handle lighter, more delicate parts in smaller
barrels that slowly rotate on a 45° axis. This gives an even finish
while minimizing the damage potential from rotation of the parts.
Rack
Zinc — Rack zinc plating is used for two very different types
of parts. The first are parts that are too delicate for even our small
barrels. The second are parts that are too large or heavy to barrel plate.
With rack zinc plating, these parts remain stationary on the rack and
don't rotate. All conversion coatings and post coatings are also available
on our rack line. Our rack process can accommodate parts up to 16"
W x 48" L x 12" D.
Chromate
Conversion Coatings
and Salt Spray Life |
| COLOR |
HOURS
TO RED RUST |
| Clear
(blue) |
24+ |
| Yellow
(gold) |
96+ |
| Black |
100+ |
| Olive
Drab (green) |
200+ |
| +
Salt Spray life depends upon zinc thickness specified, and can be
increased by the post application of seals, wax or lacquer. |
Trivalent
Chromate
Some automotive
standards call for the use of hexavalent free chromates. Trivalent chromates
are available in clear, yellow and black.
Baking
Industry
standards recommend that heat treated or hardened steel parts be baked
for a minimum of four hours at 375° after zinc plating to ensure relief
of captured hydrogen to prevent embrittlement. Best Metal Finishing offers
baking for six hours at 400° to ensure the minimums are exceeded.
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Best
Metal Finishing, Inc.
P.O.
Box 156, 1050 Railroad Ave.
Osgood, Indiana 47037
Tel. 812-689-9950 Fax 812-689-3401
E-mail: sales@bestmetalfinishing.com |
© 2008 Best Metal
Finishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
Suggestions and feedback are welcome at webmaster@bestmetalfinishing.com. |