PLATE
Every micron,
documented.
Zinc, electroless nickel, hard chrome, cadmium, copper, and tin-lead plating to MIL, AMS, and ASTM specifications — for aerospace, power generation, and EV manufacturing.
01 — Coating Catalog
Six processes.
Documented to spec.
Cross-section micrograph data for each process. Thickness, hardness, and applicable military and commercial specifications — no approximations.
Zinc Plating
Hardness
70–120 HV
Salt Spray
96–200 hrs
Fasteners, brackets, structural hardware — sacrificial corrosion barrier.
Request This Process→Electroless Nickel
Hardness
500–750 HV
Salt Spray
500–1000 hrs
Turbine components, valve bodies — uniform deposit on complex geometry.
Request This Process→Hard Chrome
Hardness
850–1050 HV
Salt Spray
200–500 hrs
Hydraulic cylinders, landing gear, pump shafts — wear and dimensional restoration.
Request This Process→Cadmium Plating
Hardness
20–30 HV
Salt Spray
500–1000 hrs
Aerospace fasteners, mil-spec connectors — galvanic compatibility with aluminum.
Request This Process→Copper Plating
Hardness
80–120 HV
Salt Spray
48–96 hrs
EV bus bars, PCB contacts, EMI shielding — maximum electrical conductivity.
Request This Process→Tin-Lead
Hardness
10–20 HV
Salt Spray
200 hrs
Legacy mil-spec connectors, solderability preservation on electronics hardware.
Request This Process→02 — Production Floor
Station by station.
Nothing hidden behind sales language.
Alkaline Clean
Parts enter heated alkaline soak tanks. Oils, machining fluids, and oxide films are saponified and emulsified — no mechanical abrasion that would alter surface geometry.
Ultrasonic agitation on titanium alloys. Separate tank for aluminum to prevent etching.
Temperature
60–80°C
Duration
5–15 min
Acid Activation
Dilute acid strike removes the passive oxide layer that would prevent metal-to-metal adhesion. Timing is critical — under-activate and adhesion fails; over-activate and substrate pits.
Controlled immersion time measured to ±15 seconds. pH monitored continuously.
Temperature
20–25°C
Duration
30–90 sec
Electrodeposition
Parts become cathodes in the plating bath. Rectifiers deliver precise DC current — current density determines deposition rate and crystal structure. Every amp-hour is logged.
Hull cell analysis every 4 hours. Bath chemistry titrated daily. Temperature ±1°C.
Temperature
Bath-specific
Duration
Calculated to thickness
Counter-Flow Rinse
Three-stage counter-flow rinse system reduces drag-out to <50 ppm. Deionized water in final stage. Conductivity meter confirms rinse quality before parts advance.
Rinse water recycled to process tanks. Zero liquid discharge on chromate lines.
Temperature
18–22°C
Duration
2–4 min
HE Relief Bake
High-strength steel (≥ 1000 MPa) and electroplated cadmium parts bake at 190°C for a minimum 23 hours within 4 hours of plating. Hydrogen driven from the lattice — prevents delayed fracture.
Oven chart recorder data retained with traveler. Mandatory for AMS 2400 cadmium.
Temperature
190°C ± 5°C
Duration
23 hrs min
03 — Process Selector
Compare processes.
Six parameters. No marketing.
| Process | Salt Spray ASTM B117 | Hardness Vickers HV | Temp Range °C | RoHS Compliance | Est. Cost per sq ft | Lead Time std. lot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Zinc Zn | 96–200 hrs | 70–120 HV | -40 to +120°C | COMPLIANT | $0.85–1.40 | 3–5 days |
E-Nickel Ni-P | 500–1000 hrs | 500–750 HV | -60 to +260°C | COMPLIANT | $3.20–5.80 | 5–7 days |
Hard Chrome Cr | 200–500 hrs | 850–1050 HV | -40 to +450°C | EXEMPT | $6.50–12.00 | 7–14 days |
All data based on standard process parameters. Actual performance varies by substrate, thickness, and post-treatment. Contact engineering for application-specific recommendations.
NADCAP
Chemical Processing
ITAR
Registered Facility
QPL-416
Cadmium Plating
ISO 9001
2015 Certified
04 — Vendor Qualification
Two paths in.
Both end with your parts plated to spec.
Request Your Plating Spec Review
Our process engineers review your part material, geometry, and specification requirements within 24 hours. No sales call required — just a direct technical response.
Download Our Process Certifications
Nadcap accreditation certificate, ITAR registration letter, QPL approvals, and our current quality manual — everything your vendor qualification team needs.
Salt Spray Hours
1,000+
Electroless Nickel max
Processes Qualified
6
MIL / AMS / ASTM
Turnaround
3 days
Standard zinc lots
Spec Compliance
100%
First article pass rate
Direct Engineering Line
+1 (312) 847-2200
Mon–Fri 6:00am–6:00pm CST