Zinc & Nickel plating

Process Zinc & Nickel plating

Zinc plating (Zn) is used to improve corrosion resistance of steel components.
Two different methods are used: low cyanogen and acid electrolytes. The first gives a better material distribution, the second is faster and avoids hydrogen embrittlement.

Nickel plating (Ni) is used for decoration and corrosion protection of steel, copper, aluminium and magnesium, for smoothing out surfaces, for black coatings, and for renewing worn machines components. Mostly applied prior to chromium plating.

Two different electrolytes are used. The first, Watt's solution, is based on nickel sulphate, nickel chloride and boric acid. The second, nickel sulphamate, is based on a salt nickel sulphamate.

Danish Name Forzinking & fornikling

Category Surface treatments, Electroplating

Materials Coating materials:
Zinc (Zn)
Nickel (Ni)
Substrates:
Steel
For nickel also:
Copper (Cu)
Aluminium (Al)
Magnesium (Mg)

Typical products Cover (Zn)
Shopping basket (Zn)
Water tap (Ni)

References Arbeitsgemeinschaft - Galvanotechnik
Galvanisk Kompagni A/S
Gelsed Galvano Industri A/S

Price notes Each field in the table below displays three cost figures. The first two figures refer to zinc-plating respectively with acid and low cyanogen baths. The third figure refers to nickel-plating.

DKK/part	5 parts	100	5000
Small (1cm2)	84/84/84	11/11/11	0.036/0.063/0.089
Medium (1dm2)	113/115/118	18/20/23	0.22/0.48/0.91
Large (100dm2)	161/224/302	43/107/185	9/34/78

Price date December 1996

Environmen- tal notes Creation: High cyanogen and low cyanogen electrolytes are poisonous.

Additional info Over 5000 parts the price doesn't vary so much. The price is calculated for a typical average thickness: 10 micron (Zn); 30 micron (Ni). Labour is the most important factor for pricing. The cost of nickel is relatively high.

Photo Thomas Nissen (Computer graphics)