When you hear about something being “zinc-plated,” there usually isn’t much description given beyond that. Zinc plating is a very beneficial process that improves a metal in many ways. However, to say that something is zinc-plated can mean a number of different things. There is zinc nickel plating, zinc iron plating, and zinc alkaline finishing, among other different types of zinc coatings. Each has its own attributes that make it useful for different applications.
Zinc Plating
Zinc coatings have been used for over 100 years to improve the performance of steel in the area of corrosion resistance. Zinc coatings are applied through electroplating, applying a thin coating of zinc through the use of electrical current. The zinc-plated finished product is strong, formable, light and corrosion resistant. The coating itself is low cost, recyclable and generally pleasant to look at. Zinc plated pieces are used in a variety of industries, including construction, household appliances and the transportation industry, among others.
Zinc Nickel Plating
Zinc nickel plating is generally considered to be an environmentally-friendly way to coat a metal. The finish is very bright and it does not show the telltale “whiskers” that sometimes appear when you bend a plated metal. There is good consistency of nickel content and uniform coverage. The plated pieces are blister free and offer both excellent adhesion properties and excellent corrosion resistance. The strong performance and clean, futuristic look of zinc nickel plating makes it a preference of many companies in high tech industries.
Zinc Iron Plating
Zinc iron plating gives a piece a softer look than zinc nickel plating while still supplying similar protection. This plating gives uniform coverage that is blister free and has fairly uniform iron content. This type of zinc plating is very popular in the auto parts, construction, transportation and appliance industries.
Zinc Alkaline Plating
The most impressive feature of zinc alkaline plating is its ability to give excellent corrosion resistance without adding excessive thickness to a piece. It is fine grained and clear. The plating gives an extremely bright finish that is zero-stress and highly ductile. This type of plating is common for auto parts that require tight tolerances and applications where zinc-plated parts need to be crimped or bent.
Dekalb Metal Finishing provides zinc electroplating. Visit www.dekalbmetal.com to find out about their services.
