Feature Articles

Electrocoating
Electrocoating is a process by which electrically charged particles are deposited out of a water suspension to coat a conductive part. During the electrocoat process, paint is applied to a part at a certain film thickness, which is regulated by the amount of voltage applied.

Zinc Electroplating
When choosing a zinc plating process, it is important to know what processes are available and each of their particular advantages and disadvantages.

Fast Track to Rugged Aqueous Cleaning
A great parts cleaning program is a value-added activity that gives your company a competitive advantage.

What Temperature Profiling System is Right for Me?
Today, profiling systems that are both sophisticated and easy to use can give a clear pass/fail finding, document regulatory compliance, let operators know when and where their ovens are trending out of acceptable limits or show that a process is within suppliers’ or customers’ specifications.

Choosing and Troubleshooting Copper Electroplating Processes
Excluding the specialty and continuous-strip plating industries, more copper is plated than any other decorative metal except for nickel.

Stripping of Plated Finishes
With an estimated 2,300 plating job shops in the U.S. and an additional 5,000– 7,000 captive shops and overhaul facilities performing plating and finishing operations, it is not surprising that there is a need for a variety of specialized stripping processes capable of removing metallic coatings.

An Innovative Approach to Filtration (Without Aggravation)
Filtration without aggravation is the key to designing any system needed to effectively remove contaminants from a finishing solution.

Today’s Paint-Application Methods
An overview of spraying, dipping, flow coating, and everything in between.

Phosphate Conversion Coatings
In the case of phosphate conversion coatings, the substrate metal participates in the coating reaction and becomes a component of the coating.

Conveyors and Paint Systems
The selection of a paint or powder finishing system depends on a number of factors, including the types of parts being coated, the required surface-treatment process, size and weight of the parts, sequence of process steps and the flow of material through the entire fabrication process.

Chromium Plating
Chromium plating continues to be the coating of choice for many metal finishing applications. Demand for chrome’s bright and lustrous finish continues to grow despite competition from other finishes such as organic coatings and vapor deposition.

Preparation for Electroplating
What you should know about cleaning and electrocleaning.

In-House Blackening of Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals
In-house black oxide finishing continues to grow in popularity.

Liquid Coatings
Increasing concern about the environment and the resultant consumer demand for environmentally-preferable products has influenced the products finishing industry across all markets and end-uses.

Aluminum Anodizing
In all anodizing processes, the basic reaction is conversion of the aluminum surface to aluminum oxide.

Powder Chemistries
Unbelievable as it may sound, there are many powder coaters that make a job-fatal decision when they select the powder for the job. The choice of powder type and chemistry is often critical to the success of the job.

Brush Plating
Whether for OEM or repair applications, the portability, ease of use, and the minimal solutions required make brush plating an attractive option to consider.

Gold and Silver Plating Basics
Because of its price, it has always been important to deposit gold only in those areas and at such thickness as the application actually required. Thus selective techniques for gold deposition were developed quite early, and continue to be improved.

Electroless Nickel Plating
By definition, electroless plating is metal deposition by a controlled chemical reaction.

Fundamentals of Powder Coating
Powder coated finishes resist scratches, corrosion, abrasion, chemicals and detergents, and the process can cut costs, improve efficiency and facilitate compliance with environmental regulations.

Pretreatment for Painting
A high quality conversion coating is essential for the durability of painted metal goods.

Nickel Electroplating
Nickel provides a decorative appearance because of its ability to cover imperfections in the basis metal (leveling). This deposit can be made brilliant and, when covered by a thin layer of decorative chrome, will maintain its brilliance even under severe conditions.

Mass Finishing: What is it All About?
Mass finishing refers to any deburring, edge breaking, or surface conditioning process in which the workpieces, although confined in a chamber, are not fixtured.

The Real Cost of Downtime
While there’s no question powder coating offers a number of advantages, there are a number of questions to ask in deciding which type of powder coating operation is right for you.

Recovery/Recycling Methods for Platers
Over the last several years, lower business volume combined with higher material costs have increased pressure for metal finishers to reduce costs.

Buffing and Polishing— Looking to the Future
While there may be alternative methods of finishing—buffing and polishing are two processes that are tough to duplicate with other methods.

Stripping Organic Coatings
With advances in coating technologies, more and more product finishers are concerned with how to remove coatings.

Ultrasonic Cleaning Systems Deliver Results and Efficiency
Many types of parts can be cleaned more successfully, often faster, with less operator involvement and without regulated solvents by using ultrasonics in an appropriately designed parts-cleaning system.