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Metal Plating

AOTCO's Finishing Techniques

Since the earliest days of metal usage thousands of years ago, people have needed to manage and adjust the characteristics of their metal creations. In modern times we employ a number of metal finishing techniques and technologies that continue this age-old endeavor. Whether you are looking for increased physical strength, a highly reflective surface, or just an aesthetically pleasing finish, there are a wide range of surface finishing options for your metal (or non-metallic) components. 

One of the most common forms of surface finishing is electroplating. It involves the electrodeposition of one material onto the surface of another, often resulting in a physically and chemically stronger material. Another common surface finishing process is chemical anodizing, which creates an oxide layer within the surface of a metal substrate. This layer provides great physical protection against wear, but it is also very porous making it great for dying and other forms of color application.

At AOTCO, we specialize in a multitude of finishing processes such as electroplating and electroless plating, chem films, passivation, electropolish, and a variety of chemical anodizes. 

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Cadmium Plating

Cadmium Plating

Cadmium Plating

Cadmium Plating provides a sleek, aesthetically pleasing blue-grey finish to its substrates and provides them with a long-lasting and corrosion resistant coating.
Electrolytic Nickel

Electroless Nickel

Electroless Nickel

Electroless Nickel deposition does not require an electrical current and provides uniform buildup on materials with complex shapes/geometry and across all external and internal surfaces.
Electroless Nickel Plating

Electrolytic Nickel

Electrolytic Nickel

Nickel is the most widely used electroplated coating. Nickel can be deposited soft or hard, dull, or bright, depending on the process used and the conditions employed when plating.
Gold Plating

Gold Plating

Gold Plating

In addition to the precious metal’s well-known aesthetic properties and monetary store of value, Gold also brings many desirable and useful attributes to industrial and scientific products.
Palladium Plating

Palladium Plating

Palladium Plating

The benefits of plating with Palladium are abundant, with the most notable quality being its ability to act as a catalyst, converting harmful emissions like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide into...
Passivation-1

Passivation

Passivation

Passivation is a term for a variety of processes that make a metal or other substance unreactive, or passive.
Plating on Magnesium

Plating on Magnesium

Plating on Magnesium

75% lighter than steel and only two thirds the weight of Aluminum, Magnesium is an outstanding substrate option for a wide variety of industrial, scientific and consumer product uses.
Platinum Plating

Platinum Plating

Platinum Plating

Platinum plating is an electroplating process that uses an electrical current and a chemical bath solution to apply platinum ions to the surface of an object or substrate. Once applied, the substrate...
Rhodium Plating

Rhodium Plating

Rhodium Plating

Rhodium Plating provides a sleek, aesthetically pleasing bright silver-white finish to its substrates and provides them with a long-lasting and corrosion resistant coating.
Silver Plating

Silver Plating

Silver Plating

Silver has become a staple in the metal finishing industry. Its combination of high thermal resistance and low reactivity make it one of the longest lasting metal finishes in the industry.
Tin Electroplating

Tin Electroplating

Tin Electroplating

Tin is a non-toxic and corrosion resistant whitish gray deposit used in a wide variety of industries.
Tin-Lead Plating

Tin-Lead Plating

Tin-Lead Plating

Tin-Lead electroplating, sometimes called “Solder Plate”, is widely used for functional soldering applications.

Benefits of Metal Finishing

Due to the variety of surface finishing processes, there’s also a long list of potential benefits that can be granted from an effective surface finish. 

While the benefits of each surface finish is determined by both the substrate and deposited materials, the most common benefit across all surface finishing processes is increased strength and wear resistance, without adding too much weight or dimensional change. This benefit is incredibly vital for our clients in the aerospace industry, who are constantly looking for ways to improve strength without jeopardizing the dimensions of a component. 

Another notable benefit of surface finishing is the completely smooth and sterile surface it can provide to its substrates. This makes surface finishing a highly sought-after process for medical device manufacturers.

Finally, another notable benefit of surface finishing is the aesthetically smooth and customizable finish it can provide for its components. Some surface finishing processes, like anodize, can help with the application of paints or other dyes onto the surface of a substrate, making for a visibly pleasing finishing.

  • Preventing Corrosion
  • changing conductibility
  • altering emissivity
  • enhancing or reducing conductivity
  • modifying lubricity
  • improving wear
  • increasing hardness
  • improving heat response & resistance
  • enhancing aesthetic appearance
  • Preventing Corrosion
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