シルベック List of Products and Services

Q: I heard that there are three types of gloss: glossy, semi-gloss, and matte. Is it possible to layer these nickel finishes, for example? A: Yes, it is possible to layer them. For instance, by layering a glossy nickel plating over a semi-gloss nickel plating, you can create a double nickel plating that utilizes the potential difference for improved corrosion resistance.

After nickel plating or nickel-chrome plating, we often receive inquiries about wanting to crimp and secure parts, but the plating film tends to crack. With our plating, it is possible to achieve a crimp-resistant nickel plating. The cause of cracking in nickel-chrome plating is the nickel plating film. Regular glossy nickel plating typically has a hardness of around HV550-600, and the film often cracks when bent or stretched during crimping. However, our nickel plating allows for a crimp-resistant nickel plating by depositing a plating film with good ductility. We can accommodate both barrel plating and jig plating.

Trivalent chromium plating is a type of chromium plating that uses trivalent chromium compounds. Trivalent chromate is a chemical treatment. Chromium plating using trivalent chromium compounds such as chromium chloride or chromium sulfate is also a plating process that reduces trivalent chromium compounds to zero valence and precipitates them, so the plating film consists of metallic chromium and does not contain either trivalent or hexavalent chromium compounds. (It complies with the RoHS directive.) Trivalent chromium plating is commonly applied over nickel plating, and the substrate can be any metal that can be plated. Trivalent chromium chromate is a chemical treatment that scientifically generates a chemical film using trivalent chromium. The chemical treatment film using trivalent chromium compounds is a chemical treatment film formed by substances such as chromium hydroxide and chromium oxide (trivalent chromium compounds), so it does not contain hexavalent chromium compounds. (It complies with the RoHS directive.) By generating a film containing trivalent chromium compounds on the surface of zinc or aluminum, high corrosion resistance can be achieved. Generally, trivalent chromate is overwhelmingly used as a rust prevention treatment for iron after zinc plating. Our company can also directly apply trivalent chromate to aluminum.

Q: Does the amount of phosphorus (P) change the characteristics? High phosphorus, medium phosphorus, low phosphorus?? A: Electroless nickel-phosphorus plating is often categorized based on the phosphorus ratio in the alloy: 2-7% is considered low phosphorus, 8-10% is medium phosphorus, and 11-15% is high phosphorus. The lower the phosphorus content, the closer the properties are to nickel metal, while a higher phosphorus content tends to increase corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and hardness. The electroless nickel plating on Silvex's mass production line is of the medium phosphorus type.

Q: Is there a tin-cobalt plating with good corrosion resistance? A: There are plating solutions that add nickel or copper to tin-cobalt to improve corrosion resistance, but none of them have the high corrosion resistance comparable to black chrome plating.

Q: Is anodized aluminum compliant with the RoHS directive? A: Yes, it is compliant. 【Thai Silvec Contact Information】 Office: 038-447-557, 038-447-558, 038-447-566 Thai Direct Line: 089-938-8207 Japanese Direct Line: 091-779-4427 E-mail: info@thai-silvec.com 【Japan Silvec Contact Information】 TEL: 048-994-5931 FAX: 048-994-5935 E-mail: info@silvec.co.jp

Q: Can chrome plating be done in a barrel? 【 Chrome Plating 】 A: Trivalent chrome plating can be done in a barrel, but hexavalent chrome plating cannot be done in a barrel. Our company performs chrome plating in a barrel using plating solutions that contain trivalent chrome compounds.

Q: What are the characteristics of the differences in tin plating baths? A: Acidic bath: Fast plating speed, inferior adhesion compared to alkaline baths, capable of producing matte, semi-gloss, and glossy finishes. Alkaline bath: Slower plating speed (half that of acidic baths), but good adhesion; glossy appearance cannot be achieved. Neutral bath: Suitable for plating on materials such as glass and ceramics that are affected by traditional acidic and alkaline baths; expensive.

Q: I would like to have a chrome plating finish that resembles a mirror. Is that possible? [Chrome Plating] A: Yes, it is possible. By polishing the material to a mirror finish and applying a glossy nickel plating as a base, chrome plating with a mirror finish can be achieved. In the case of hard chrome (industrial chrome) plating, a mirror finish polishing is performed after plating.

Q: Can aluminum materials be galvanized with zinc? A: Yes, we can. We perform zinc galvanizing on aluminum die castings and aluminum lost wax products, among others.

Q: What is the substrate for Suzukoba plating? A: The substrate for Suzukoba cobalt plating is generally nickel plating.

Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of tin plating? A: The advantages of tin plating are: 1. Good solder wetting properties during soldering. 2. Being a soft metal, it can easily break through any oxide film due to sliding, exposing the tin metal. 3. Decorative properties due to its beautiful silver-white color. 4. It is a low-toxicity metal with good corrosion resistance and chemical resistance. The disadvantages are: 1. The occurrence of whiskers. 2. Over time, an oxide film can form on the plating surface, making it prone to a gray, non-lustrous appearance.

Q: Does Silvec's black nickel plating have a range of color tones? A: The color tone varies from a bluish-black to a brownish-black, but it is difficult to control it to a specific color tone.

Q: Is it true that magnetic properties change with hardness variation? [Electroless nickel plating] A: The magnetic properties change due to the transformation of the structure of the electroless nickel-phosphorus plating film from a crystalline state to an amorphous state. Generally, increasing hardness tends to make it non-magnetic.

Q: Is it okay to have a film thickness of 200-300 μm with electroless nickel plating? A: It requires expertise to achieve a film thickness of over 100 μm with electroless nickel plating. Please consult us.

Q: What are the applications of tin-cobalt plating? A: Tin-cobalt plating mainly comes in white and black types. The white type has a color tone similar to chrome plating but offers much better adhesion than chrome plating, and since barrel plating is possible, it is referred to as substitute chrome and is suitable for complex shapes and fine products. The black type can produce colors ranging from bluish black to brownish black, making it suitable for optical components that dislike light reflection, as well as for bag hardware and accessories (which require clear coating).

Q: Can you do matte chrome plating or semi-gloss chrome plating? A: If it is decorative nickel base chrome plating, we can accommodate from matte to semi-gloss and glossy finishes by controlling the gloss level of the underlying nickel plating.

Q: Is it possible to process parts with easily entangled or easily deformable shapes using barrel plating with copper, nickel, or tin? A: Yes, it is possible. There are some limitations regarding shape and thickness, but we can accommodate this with our precision barrel plating.

Q: Is it possible to achieve a glossy appearance with electroless nickel plating? A: We are unable to accommodate that. Electroless nickel plating does not have the capability to produce a glossy finish. While it is possible to create an appearance by using a mirror finish on the base material before applying electroless nickel plating, we cannot control the gloss. With electrolytic nickel, however, it is possible to control the finish from semi-gloss to glossy appearance.

Q: Can nickel plating be done on any material? A: Basically, as long as proper surface preparation is carried out, nickel plating can be applied to any material.

Q: What are the differences other than color compared to nickel plating? A: Black nickel plating is a plating film of a metallic compound rather than a metal, so it is softer than nickel plating and has inferior corrosion resistance and discoloration resistance.

Are you under the impression that aluminum materials such as ADC12 and A5052 can only be surface treated with anodizing? Or do you think that aluminum materials can only be plated using a jig for hook plating? Silvec has made barrel plating on aluminum materials, which has traditionally been considered difficult, possible. 【Features】 ○ Significant cost reduction → No costs for jig manufacturing or labor costs for jig setup ○ No need to set the workpiece in a jig ○ Improved corrosion resistance → No contact marks from jig setup on the workpiece → No corrosion from contact marks ○ Very advantageous for dimensional control of the workpiece after plating → Less variation in plating thickness between workpieces compared to hook plating ○ Conductivity → Unlike anodizing, most of the plating film conducts electricity well ○ Choice of specifications → Various coatings that can be soldered are available For more details, please contact us or refer to the catalog.

Q: What is the difference from other black coatings? A: Generally, it is cheaper than other black coatings, but it tends to discolor quickly and has a large variation in color tone, so its applications can be considered limited.

Q: What is the difference between tin-cobalt plating and chrome plating? A: The difference between tin-cobalt plating and chrome plating is that the tin-cobalt plating film is made of a softer metal, which makes it less wear-resistant and less corrosion-resistant compared to chrome plating. However, it is cheaper and has better adhesion than chrome plating.

Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of electroless plating that does not use electricity? [Electroless Nickel Plating] A: The advantages include relatively uniform plating on both convex and concave parts of the product, and superior corrosion resistance compared to glossy nickel plating. The disadvantages include the accumulation of reducing agents as impurities after they have acted, necessitating the renewal of the plating solution, the plating film not being pure nickel metal, slower plating speed compared to electroplating, and higher costs.

Q: Is it possible to apply aluminum chrome plating on aluminum die casting (ADC12)? A: Yes, it is possible. Our company has a wealth of experience with aluminum chrome plating on aluminum die casting ADC12. The most commonly adopted is aluminum chrome. The characteristics of our aluminum chrome include not only very high corrosion resistance but also excellent post-plating workability, particularly in terms of ductility, making it a significant feature that the coating does not crack even when subjected to processes like riveting.

Q: What materials can electroless nickel plating be applied to? A: Electroless nickel plating can be applied to solid materials. However, it is generally applicable to steel, copper alloys, aluminum alloys, zinc alloys, and plating-grade plastics.

Q: Can Silvec's chrome plating be applied for decorative purposes at a thickness of over 1 μm? A: Yes, it is possible. However, as the thickness increases, the appearance may become cloudy, so for decorative purposes, there is a possibility that the desired appearance may not be achieved. For decorative purposes, we recommend a thickness of around 1 μm.

Q: Is it possible to apply solderable nickel plating on aluminum? A: Solderable nickel plating can be applied to aluminum materials. Plating processes such as jig plating and barrel plating are possible. Regardless of the type of aluminum material, it is certainly possible for rolled aluminum alloys, and we can also accommodate cast aluminum alloys, such as aluminum die castings, without any issues.

Q: Is it possible to nickel plate aluminum materials using a barrel? A: Yes, it is possible at our company. Depending on the shape and size of the aluminum, the cost-effectiveness of plating using jigs versus plating using barrels will vary. We will review the product drawings and shapes to suggest which method would be more cost-effective, as well as discuss the differences in quality. In addition to price differences, the performance benefits of having a complete plating coating without jig contact, and the effectiveness of barrels for achieving plating on the inner diameter in the case of tubular products, are significant.

Q: What happens if nickel is not applied as a base layer? 【 Chrome plating 】 A: I will answer in the context of decorative plating. It is possible to perform chrome plating without a base nickel layer, but there are many disadvantages such as not achieving gloss, and inferior corrosion and wear resistance. Therefore, a base nickel plating is necessary for decorative chrome plating.

Q: What materials are unsuitable for chrome plating? [trivalent chromium, hexavalent chromium] A: It is difficult to categorically list materials that are unsuitable for chrome plating. By properly selecting and applying pretreatment and base plating, and by adjusting the plating thickness according to the application and purpose, it is believed that chrome plating can be applied to all materials.

Q: Is chromate treatment necessary for zinc-coated surfaces? A: In the case of electro-galvanized coatings, chromate treatment is applied to most products after zinc plating. Zinc coatings are very prone to rust. For zinc plating on iron materials, the zinc coating helps to delay the onset of red rust by corroding (forming white rust), which prevents the occurrence of red rust. Chromate treatment is performed to prevent the formation of white rust (for rust prevention purposes). The corrosion resistance against the formation of white rust depends on the performance of the chromate coating.

Q: Does black nickel plating discolor? A: Yes, it does discolor. In particular, black nickel that is nickel-zinc based is prone to discoloration.

Q: Is there a difference in color between hexavalent chromium plating and trivalent chromium plating? A: Chromium plating derived from hexavalent chromium compounds exhibits a distinctive bluish-silver color. In contrast, chromium plating derived from trivalent chromium compounds contains trace elements other than chromium, resulting in a range of colors from a white similar to chromium to darker shades that can be close to black.

Q: With electric nickel, the inner diameter coverage is poor, but is it true that switching to electroless nickel solves this issue? A: There is a high possibility of it being resolved. In electroless nickel plating, nickel metal is deposited through a chemical reaction, allowing for relatively uniform plating even on the inside of tubular products where electricity has difficulty reaching in electric plating.

Q: Anodizing tends to reduce the glossiness. Is bright anodizing possible? A: Yes, it is possible. Anodizing often reduces glossiness when a thicker layer is applied, depending on the material. Our company has the capability to adjust the anodizing process conditions for bright anodizing, and we also have a chemical polishing process as a pre-treatment. By passing through this process before anodizing, we can provide bright anodizing.

Q: Is it possible to mask and anodize? A: Yes, it is possible. If you want to keep the processing dimensions intact, masking can prevent the formation of the anodized coating. Our company offers masking using silicone rubber, tape, printing, masking liquid, and other options.

Q: Can the gloss level of solderable nickel plating (electrolytic nickel plating for soldering) be specified, such as glossy nickel or semi-glossy nickel? A: It cannot achieve a super glossy finish like a mirror. The determination of gloss level is up to the customer, but management from a slight gloss to semi-gloss is possible.

Q: I would like to have a mirror finish with chrome plating; is that possible? A: Yes, it is possible. By polishing the material to a mirror finish and applying a glossy nickel plating as a base before the chrome plating, a mirror chrome finish can be achieved. In the case of hard chrome (industrial chrome) plating, a mirror finish polishing is performed after plating. Our company mainly specializes in decorative chrome plating.

Q: What is the difference between hard chrome plating and decorative chrome plating? A: Decorative chrome plating generally uses nickel plating as a base and is aimed at improving appearance and corrosion resistance (e.g., car emblems). On the other hand, hard chrome plating, officially referred to as industrial chrome plating, involves applying a thick layer of chrome plating (over 1μm) to achieve hardness, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and release properties (e.g., hydraulic equipment cylinders).

Q: Is trivalent chromium plating different from trivalent chromate? A: Yes, they are different. Trivalent chromium plating is typically applied over nickel plating, and the base material can be any metal that can be plated. However, trivalent chromate is generally applied after zinc plating, although we can also apply trivalent chromate directly to aluminum.

Q: What is Alon plating? A: It refers to a high corrosion-resistant plating on aluminum materials. The type of plating can vary depending on the customer's application, and we can accommodate various types of plating. If you provide us with the corrosion resistance you are targeting, we can evaluate it by creating Alon plating samples in consultation with our specifications.

Q: Is electroless nickel without electricity compliant with WEEE and RoHS regulations? [Lead-free electroless nickel plating] A: Lead-free electroless nickel plating complies with WEEE and RoHS directives. Our electroless nickel plating is lead-free, so it is compliant.

Q: When crimping after electric nickel plating, the nickel plating film cracks. Is it possible to have a nickel plating that does not crack during crimping? A: It is possible with our company. Regular bright nickel plating often cracks during crimping due to the film stretching at a hardness of around HV550-600. Our nickel plating can achieve a nickel plating that does not crack during crimping by depositing a plating film with good ductility. We would be grateful if you could feel free to contact us or request sample creation.