Heat Treated Steels and Zinc Plating

Question:

What is the best way to zinc plate heat-treated steels? J. A.

Answer:

Surfaces that have been heat treated (nitrided or carbo-nitrided) are best plated using acid chloride plating baths. You may be able to use alkaline non-cyanide or even a cyanide bath and get satisfactory results but in my experience parts that have been heavily nitrided will give you a lot of grief if plated in these baths.