Process	Mechanical plating
	Suitable for powder sintered objects, whose porosity prevents chemical or electrolytical coating without risk of corrosion, although the largest use of mechanical plating is for zinc plating of steel objects. The process gives uniform coatings (material savings and better corrosion resistance), with no risk for hydrogen embrittelment (typical problem of electrolytical coating). Normally used coating materials are low E-modulus metals. A fluid slurry, the parts to be plated, fine coating powder, and spherical glass beads are set in a rotating cylinder. Rotation produces mechanical energy enabling the coating material to fill the holes of the substrate, and to create the coating layer.
Danish Name	Mekanisk plettering
Category	Surface processes, coating
Materials	Normally: Zinc (coating) Steel (substrate)
Typical products	Spring, mechanical plating
Environmen- tal notes	Mechanical plating is an environment-friendly process, and allows energy savings.
Additional info	Low investments. The cost of the process depends on the coating thickness. Mechanical plating is suitable for coating thickness between 15 and 50 micron. Normal deposition time is about 45 min for 5-13 micron.
Photo	Thomas Nissen (Computer graphics)
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