At R & S Plating, you get high-quality Louisville Copper Plating and personalized customer service at affordable rates. We use our more than 70 years in the metal finishing business to provide you with the superior results in your company needs. As leaders in the industry, we guarantee you’ll love the work we do.
In addition to our copper plating services, we also offer a wide range of other metal finishing services including hard chrome plating, nital etching, cadmium plating, black zinc plating, passivation, sulfamate nickel plating, and more. If you’d like to talk to us about your next metal plating project, simply give us a call at 317-925-2396 or click on the “Contact Us” button found at the top of the page.
Copper: Its Properties and History
Copper is a natural metallic element that is sourced through mining beneath the earth’s surface. One of its most notable features is its reddish-orange color. Copper is also known to be softer and more malleable than many other metals.
Copper has been used throughout history in a variety of ways. It’s believed that copper (along with gold and iron) was one of the first metals to be used by mankind. Some of the earliest civilizations used copper to create jewelry, art, and tools.
Today, copper is still used in similar ways – only the processes have changed. Thanks to improvements in technology, copper can now be used as an overlay onto other objects. This process, known as electroplating, provides the object being coating with the attributes of copper white maintaining its shape and inherent properties.
For example, a component for an airplane or spacecraft could be made from plastic then coated in copper through electroplating. Since copper is an excellent conductor of electricity, the coated part will also offer high conductivity. But by using plastic underneath, instead of fashioning the entire item out of copper, you have a solid, non-malleable object created at a relatively low cost.
The Benefits of Louisville Copper Plating
The high conductivity of copper is probably the number one reason why companies choose it as an overlay. There are few metals that can complete with copper when it comes to conductivity; it’s one of the best electrical conductors known to man. But copper plating has many more benefits to offer, including:
- Copper is Ductile and Can Resist Stress
As stated before, copper is relatively pliable. Metals that are malleable are often called “ductile.” That means it can be molded, bent, or stretched out into various forms without breaking. For some, this might be seen as a negative characteristic, especially if you’re looking for a metal that is strong and will hold its shape indefinitely.
But being ductile comes with some benefits. Because copper is soft and malleable, it can stand up well to external stressors. Its ductility makes copper a great choice for objects that require a bit of flexibility, like wiring. It can also be used on parts with unusual shapes, like those with multiple curves, edges, and angles.
- Copper Adheres Well to Many Different Materials
Copper is also known for its ability to adhere to a variety of underlying substrates, including ferrous and non-ferrous metals. With some overlays, you get a lot of flaking and poor adhesion. But copper will mold itself around the object, offering coverage that’s both smooth and uniform.
- Copper is Resistant to Corrosion
Another great attribute of copper is its capacity for resisting corrosion. This comes, in part, thanks to its knack for adhesion. Because copper adheres so well to a variety of surfaces, there are no gaps in its coverage.
This means that outside elements can’t get in to wreak havoc on the underlying object or on the plating itself. You can rest easy knowing that our Louisville Copper Plating is providing excellent protection against corrosion.
- Copper is Beautiful
While beauty may not be your top priority, it is definitely one of the many benefits that accompany copper plating. The color of copper is somewhat unique in the metal finishing world – it’s a gorgeous, bright reddish-orange color that will make any object stand out. If you’re looking for an overlay that’s pleasing to the eye, copper is a great way to go.
- Copper is a Versatile Plating Option
Copper is also a great choice because it can be used in a variety of applications in many different industries. In fact, Louisville Copper Plating is a popular option for companies in the automotive, aerospace, renewable energy, defense, roofing, plumbing, and industrial industries.
Call Us for First-Rate Louisville Copper Plating Services
Copper plating has a lot to offer – not only is it an excellent conductor of electricity, it’s also ductile, versatile, resistant to corrosion, beautiful, and cost-effective. To talk to a Louisville Copper Plating expert about your metal finishing needs, just give us a call at 317-925-2396 or use the contact form on this site. We look forward to talking with you soon!