Selective Plating FAQ’s
Electroplating is a process commonly known as Electrolysis.
Electrolysis producing a chemical change by passing an electrical current through to the electrolyte (solution).
The ions migrating to the electrodes, the positive ions which are the metal being deposited are attracted to the negative charged electrode (the part being plated).
The negative ions are attracted to the positive electrode (Anode) and given off as gases.
The theory of brush plating is very basic. The part to be plated is given a negative (-) charge through a flexible wire lead from a special D.C. power pack. The plating tool or “brush” is positively (+) charged from the same power pack by a second insulated flexible lead. The plating tool assembly consists of an insulated handle with a graphite or stainless steel anode.
The anode is covered with an absorbent material such as dacron felt. The plating tool is then dipped into the desired plating solution and rubbed over the area where the coating is desired.
The plating only takes place where the anode contacts the part. The operator must maintain movement between the anode and the part to insure sound metal deposits.
- Navy & Marine
- Aircraft & Aerospace Industries
- Printing Industries
- Electrical & Electronic Industry
- General Engineering including mould and die making.
- Portability
- Ease of operation
- Rapid metal build up
- Disassemble of machines
- Plating of larger parts that won’t fit in a tank
- Excellent adhesion
- Dense coatings
- No thermal distortion
- Minimize hydrogen embrittlement and reduces waste.
Difficulty in plating complex shapes. In most cases only one part at a time.
It is a very labour intensive operation.
Selective plating means that you can selectively plate an area by the means of masking off areas that need not be plated with either masking tapes or masking paints.
Just like painting the material on. The job becomes the canvas or Cathode and the brush is the Anode and the paint is the metal.
Brush plating is approved to many standards.
Brush plating has many of its own approvals and these can be supplied from LDC on request.
Many marine, electrical, aircraft and military bodies approve brush plating.
(Blue folder containing all approvals)