Metal plating is a complex process used for both cosmetic and functional purposes for long wear life for component or production parts. Other advantages include being crack-free and both corrosion and heat resistant. Two popular plating processes are Electroless Nickel Plating and Chrome Plating.

Electroless Nickel Plating

Electroless nickel coatings provide outstanding protection from oxidation, corrosion and wear on parts and components. Used on aluminum electronic devices it not only prevents contamination but also improves the solderability of the surfaces to which it is applied. This process provides an attractive appearance similar to stainless steel. Due to the fact that there is no electricity involved, plating thickness will be uniform on all parts, regardless of geometry. Computer controlled chemical analysis and maintenance control systems ensure correct bath chemistries at all times.

Some typical uses are on aerospace hardware, automotive parts, food processing equipment, fluid power components, textile machinery, hydraulics, valves, pumps, plastic molds, electronic components, chemical processing equipment, and printed circuit boards. These are a small representation of the wide range of applications for which electroless nickel is well suited.

The proprietary "TDNC"^TM Thin Dense Nickel Composite process offers these additional benefits:

• Outstanding Corrosion Protection
• Non-chrome environmentally friendly process
• Absolute deposit uniformity on all geometries
• Thickness control within ± 0.000025 inches
• Unique process control through the use of computer controlled chemistry
• PTFE chemically bonded top coat for added lubricity and increased corrosion protection

Chrome Plating

Hard chrome has been a standard wear resistant coating used by industry in a variety of applications. Its chief advantages are hardness, low coefficient of friction, corrosion protection, adaptability to coating many different metallic substrates, and its availability.

The trademarked TDC-1 Thin Dense Chrome process designates the proprietary electrodeposition of a thin, highly dense, crack free layer of chromium onto a metal substrate. The resulting deposit exhibits characteristics that are not obtainable by conventional chrome plating methods. TDC-1 offers the following advantages:

• An extremely durable chromium electroplating process that provides amazing wear and corrosion resistant properties to almost any metal surface.
• Superior adherence and uniformity that protects the parent metal from the eroding effects of friction, chemicals, and weather.
• Produces a micro-nodular surface that is effective in increasing wear resistance in sliding surface contacts and aids in lubricant dispersion.
• Of value to nearly every industry using precision metal parts, close tolerance fittings, bearings and cutting surfaces.
• Will not affect a growth of more thatn 0.0002 inches under normal circumstances, eliminating the need to undersize design calculations in most applications.
• Conforms to surface detail with no further polishing or grinding required.
• Applicable to most ferrous and nonferrous metals, with the exception of aluminum and titanium.

PLATING THICKNESS: TDC-1 can be applied in a thickness range from 0.00002 inches (20 millionths) to 0.00025 inches (250 millionths). The practical thickness is governed by the end use of the product, as well as dimensional tolerances on the actual part being plated.

APPEARANCE: TDC-1 plated surfaces will exhibit a uniform micro matte finish, free of blisters, cracks, or other surface imperfections that are not a result of the surface finish on the host part. TDC-1 will not fill imperfections in the base metal such as scratches, pits, etc. but instead will conform to these imperfections with amazing detail.

HARDNESS: TDC-1 as deposited will have a hardness in excess of 70 Rockwell "C" when measured on a superficial hardness tester. Conventional hardness testing equipment is not suitable due to the thickness of the deposit.

HOST MATERIALS: TDC-1 can be deposited directly on all ferrous and non ferrous metals with the exception of aluminum, magnesium and titanium.

ADHESION: TDC-1 will not chip, flake, or peel from the base metal under ASTM bend tests.