Back in 1946, R&S Plating has been specializing in Indianapolis Zinc Plating. We have been operating in the same facility for seven decades. With all of the updates and changes in technology, we have continued to work in the same building. We take customer service to heart, due to our deep family roots within the company. With over 114, 4000 businesses and growing, we are excited to continue to grow our company. R&S Plating is located off of Interstate 70, right in the heart of the Crossroads of America. We work with the small and large company throughout the greater Indianapolis area, but throughout the Midwest too! No project is too big or too small, whether it is for industrial, military, commercial, or more.
What is Indianapolis Zinc Plating?
Zinc Plating is used most often for screws, bolts, crank handles, springs, other small fasteners, and other hardware. These parts are generally exposed to moderate to severe corrosive conditions. Zinc Plating can give your parts corrosion protection against rust. $276 billion dollars is lost annually in the United States due to corrosion related loss, according to NASA. Most heavily impacted industries include Production & Manufacturing, Transportation, Government, Utilities, and Infrastructure.
Zinc plating can come in dull gray with a matte finish; however, more lustrous whiter coatings can be produced. Coatings are thin, ranging up to 1 mil. Types of Zinc compounds were first used around the 1400s. You will see Zinc is most commonly being used in galvanization.
Factors that Determine End Results
- The amount of voltage that is applied determines the thickness of the plating. The stronger the voltage, the thicker the plating.
- The temperature of the bath determines the hydrogen diffusions on the cathode. It also increases the consumption of additives and brighteners.
- The concentration of zinc determines the brightness and texture of the end product. If the concentration is higher, you will have a rougher surface. Lower concentrations will have a brighter finish.
Indianapolis Zinc Plating Process
This plating process involves electrocoating of a thin coat of zinc onto a surface of another metal. Electrocoating is electrically charged particles of metal are deposited from water suspension to layer a conductive item. The level of thickness is determined by the amount of voltage applied.
- The item you will be plating needs to be thoroughly cleaned. Any particles of debris will prevent adhesion of the plating.
- The next step will be to prepare the plating solution. Before the electroplating can begin, the substrate needs to be soaked in an electrolyte solution (plating bath).
- After the preparation, for large items, parts are put on racks for them to remain stationary. Smaller items are barrel plated, where they will be rotated for a uniform finish.
- We will then introduce an electrical current to deposit the metal onto the surface of your item. The Zinc ions are deposited onto the service in this step.
- The next step of the plating process is to rinse the parts to remove contaminants and remnants. The item may need to be rinsed multiple times.
- The last step is to dry the substrate thoroughly.
Post plate treatments are another way to enhance the corrosion protection of zinc plating. These treatments are chromate treatments, which is a salt that contains chromium and oxygen. This treatment helps substrates to be less susceptible to oxidation. It also created another barrier for moisture.
You can also apply a post-treatment sealer after the chromate treatment. This sealer will cause the chromate to harden while giving a better adhesion to the zinc plating. The treatment and sealer will increase protection by 100%.
The benefits of Indianapolis Zinc Plating
Not only is Zinc a great protector against corrosion, but it helps in many other ways:
Low Cost- Increased Strength
- Low-Stress Deposit
- Flexibility
- Ductility
- High-Temperature Tolerance
- Control of Embrittlement from Hydrogen
- Environmentally Friendly
- Aesthetically Appealing
- And more!
Contact R&S Plating Today
If you are ready to get started with our Indianapolis Zinc Plating, please feel free to reach out to a representative at R&S Plating to get started. We are ready to help you complete your next project. We hope to add you to our zinc plating family, in Indianapolis. If you have questions about production time or costs for your small or large sized project, we can provide you with an estimate.
If you do not need zinc plating but are looking for another Indianapolis service we also offer metal plating, copper plating, cadmium plating, passivation plating, hard chrome plating, and white layers plating. Contact us with any questions that you may have. We cannot wait to hear from you!