ZINC
PLATING CONSUMER PURPOSES
ZINC PLATING is the most common and
economical type of plating. Zinc,
which has a distinctive bluish-white tint
and a brilliant shine, is one of the most
extensively used metals in the surface
finishing industry. What makes it
particularly popular commercially is its
effectiveness and affordability as a form of
plating. Zinc plating is also done in
combination with other metals such as
nickel, cobalt and tin. Zinc plating is most
widely used commercially for plating iron
and steel, but it is also used to protect
finished products ranging from structural
steelwork for buildings and bridges to nuts,
bolts, screws, strips, sheets, wires and
tubes.
ZINC PLATING
GALVANIZATION
Zinc plating provides a soft and
anti-corrosive covering around the
substrate, preventing oxidation of the
substrate (metal that is to be guarded) by
forming a protective anti-corrosive barrier.
Unlike other metal plating techniques it
shields the object by acting as a
sacrificial coating that prolongs the life
of the underlying metal.
ZINC PLATING AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY
Zinc plating technology has been used in
the automotive industry for years in Japan,
Europe and the United States. The auto
industry uses zinc-nickel coatings for most
of its products. The plated end products are
used in passenger car and light truck power
steering components, air conditioning,
hydraulic brake components and for most
under-the-hood components.
ZINC PLATING ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION
APPLICATIONS
Many zinc plating processes are used
extensively in heavy electrical transmission
components. Metal parts or structures
that are used in engineering products or for
the purpose of providing linkages and
anchorage are ideal candidates for zinc
plating. Zinc Plating is used for nuts and
bolts, ship anchors or cleats; in fact, any
metal fixtures that spend the majority of
their productive life in corrosive
environments are ideal products to be Zinc
Plated. Zinc plating on such objects gives
additional protection by providing a highly
resistant anti-corrosive film, thus
increasing its longevity. Another popular
use of zinc plating is in the coaxial TV
cable connector, which is assembled within
the aluminium hosing. These connectors are
used indoors and outdoors. Alkaline
zinc-nickel plating used in this type of
application is also an environmentally safer
substitute.
ZINC PLATING
FASTENERS
Fasteners are another product that heavily
depends on plating. Traditionally, cadmium
has been used for plating, but it is not
environmentally friendly and its
anti-corrosion properties break down when
exposed to heat. This has therefore given
rise to zinc plating as a much better option.
Plating fasteners in zinc-nickel plating is
therefore now a fast growing industry.
ZINC PLATING
FOR DEFENCE
Zinc
plating is also found in manufacturing of
tanks and armoured personnel carriers, with
additional research being carried out in
this area to find new avenues of its
application.
