Mechanical Plating

 

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Mechanical Plating and Galvanizing

Mechanical plating is a room temperature process in which zinc, tin, or other ductile metals are applied to a metal substrate.  The plating process occurs without the use of heat or electricity.

Mechanical Galvanizing is a term used to identify a mechanical plating process that produces plating thicknesses greater than 0.001 inches.
 

  • Mechanical Plating 0.0002 to 0.0009 inches.
  • Mechanical Galvanizing 0.001+ inches

Coating Materials

We currently offer the following materials for mechcanical plating:

Zinc

Tin

Tin-Zinc

Tin-Zinc-Aluminum

Chromates and Passivates

We currently offer the following materials for mechcanical plating:

 

  • Yellow (Hexavalent or Trivalent)
  • Clear Trivalent
  • Black (application dependent)
  • Olive Drab

ASTM B695 Specifications

The following tables contain specifications from the ASTM B695 mechancla plating standard.

ASTM B695 Classes
ASTM B695 Classification Minimum Plating Thickness
Class 5 5 µm ≈ .0002 in
Class 8 8 µm ≈ .0003 in
Class 12 12 µm ≈ .0005 in
Class 25 25 µm ≈ .001 in
Class 40 40 µm ≈ .0015 in
Class 50 50 µm ≈ .002 in
Class 55 53 µm ≈ .0021 in
Class 65 66 µm ≈ .0026 in
Class 70 69 µm ≈ .0027 in
Class 80 81 µm ≈ .0032 in
Class 110 107 µm ≈ .0042 in

Source: ASTM B695

Salt Spray Protection (hours)
Class Type I* Type II**
5 36 72
8 56 72
12 96 96
25 192 195
40 250 250
50 300 300

*Plain Zinc

**With Chromate Conversion Coating

Source: ASTM B695

Other Specifications

In addition to ASTM B695 specifications we can meet the following specifications:

  • AASHTO – AASHTO M298-97
  • ASTM – ASTM B695-00
  • ISO – ISO 12683
  • Chrysler Corporation – PS-1536
  • Ford – ESF-M1P37-A
  • General Motors – GM4344M & GM4345M
  • John Deere – JDM F22
  • United States of America – MIL-C-81562B
  • RoHS Compliance

Please inquire about mechanical plating specifications that are not included in the list above.

Hydrogen Embrittlement

One of the primary benefits to mechanial plating is the elimination of hydrogen embrittlement.

Hydrogen embrittlement is a phenomenon in which a material experiences a significant reduction in ductility and tensile strength when atomic hydrogen diffuses into the material.

Hydrogen in its atomic form diffuses interstitially through the crystal lattice, and concentrations as low as several parts per million can lead to catastrophic brittle failure in normally ductile material. Martensitic steels are especially vulnerable to hydrogen embrittlement.

Electroplating is one of the few process that induce hydrogen embrittlement. This makes it necessary to add a post-plating baking process to drive out any dissolved hydrogen.

Mechanical plating eliminates the risk of hydrogen embrittlement and also eliminates the need for any post-plating risk reduction processes.

Resin Impregnation

Resin impregnation is a process of sealing of porosity which occurs in manufacturing processes such as casting and sintering. Through vacuum and pressure methods, polymer resin is forced into the porosity and then cured to form a pressure tight part.

Advantages of Resin Impregnation

  • Eliminates porosity
  • Eliminates bleedout
  • Impregnation prior to electroplating, lacquering, and baked enamel finished eliminates bleedout from acid etches and electrolytes. Gassing and blistering by materials absorbed into the porosity is also eliminated

Materials we resin impregnate

  • Powder Metal Parts
  • Castings

Specifications

  • MIL-STD-276
  • MIL-I-17563
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