If you aren’t familiar with zinc, it is a brittle, hard metal that is found in various areas around the globe. Electroplating with zinc is an excellent alternative to using more expensive metals like platinum, silver, and gold. Companies who are looking for an affordable option for corrosion protection often choose this metal. It acts as a barrier that does not allow rusting to occur.
In some cases, zinc is alloyed with other metals in the plating process. The most common combinations are zinc-nickel plating and zinc-tin plating. An alloy with nickel provides a significantly more effective corrosion protection element than zinc alone. Tin and zinc can also be a great option for avoiding corrosion. This alloy is often used in lieu of cadmium plating. In some cases, zinc-iron and zinc-cobalt are also used.
Zinc is compatible with many plating baths, a benefit for the companies who choose zinc plating to use it. It can also be used in rack plating and barrel plating processes, giving even more variety. It can reach temperatures of up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes cooling costs minimal. In addition to that, it also has great adhesion and malleability.
Zinc plating can take place with an acid, alkaline, or cyanide based electrolyte bath. The latter two options are best for items with large or complex parts, as a better thickness distribution is possible. It is also worth noting that barrel plating is the best option when you are coating small items such as bolts, nuts, and fasteners.
While there are many applications where zinc coating excels, there are also some applications where it’s not the optimal option. Zinc coatings are not known for working well against alkalis and acids. An e-coat, plastic, or powder is likely to be better in this case. Seawater can also lead to problems in the durability of zinc, which means it is best not to be used in marine applications.
