シルベック List of Products and Services

Q: Is it possible to have a hard copper plating with a film? A: It is possible to have a copper plating with a hardness higher than pure copper (around 55HV) (up to about 180HV).

Q: Can barrel plating be done for complex-shaped SUS304 (stainless steel) parts? A: Yes, barrel plating can be done. Barrel plating for products that are prone to entanglement or bending is one of our specialties. Please feel free to consult with us.

Q: What parts do you recommend for Suzuki Kobalt? A: Suzuki Kobalt plating is recommended for applications where there is no rubbing during use, particularly for small, complex-shaped products when you want to plate at a low cost.

Q: What are the performance differences between hexavalent chromium and trivalent chromium? Is there a comparison table for coating performance? [Trivalent Chromium, Hexavalent Chromium] A: The comparison table for the coating performance of hexavalent chromium and trivalent chromium is included in our document "Hexavalent Chromium and Trivalent Chromium (What is the difference between chrome plating and chromate?)". Please check it.

Q: Is trivalent chromium plating different from trivalent chromate? A: The two are completely different technologies. Plating is a technique that covers a material with metal, while chromate treatment is a chemical treatment. Trivalent chromium plating is typically done over nickel plating, and the base material can be any metal that can be plated. However, trivalent chromate is generally applied after zinc plating, but we can also directly apply trivalent chromate to aluminum die casting and zinc die casting.

Q: Is there a plating that is cheaper than silver and has good conductivity? A: While it has lower conductivity compared to silver, we recommend copper plating, which is the next best metal for conductivity. Our company also offers discoloration prevention treatments that do not reduce solder wetting properties.

Q: Besides tin plating, what other platings have good solder wetting properties? A: Our "Solderable Nickel Plating" has solder wetting properties equivalent to tin plating, does not produce whiskers, and is a cost-effective plating. Precious metal platings (such as gold, silver, platinum, etc.) generally have good solder wetting properties, but they are expensive.

Q: Is Kanizen plating available? A: Kanizen plating is a trademark name for electroless nickel solution, and when Kanizen is mentioned in the drawings, it generally refers to electroless nickel plating. Our electroless nickel plating is not from Kanizen, but if the customer does not specifically require Kanizen's solution, we can provide it without any quality issues.

Q: Is it true that a film thickness target can be set according to JIS grades (grades 1 to 7)? A: Yes, it is possible. The grades of electroless nickel-phosphorus alloy plating specified by JIS define the minimum thickness of the plating, so it is possible to manage the plating thickness accordingly.

Q: What is the conductivity efficiency of copper plating? A: Among metals, copper has the second-best electrical conductivity after silver.

Q: I would like to apply a plating with good solderability to fine items around 2mm. Is this possible? A: Yes, it is possible. There are several types of plating with good solderability, such as solderable nickel plating, silver plating, tin plating, and other barrel plating options. If you could provide the intended use and any other quality requirements, we can make recommendations.

Q: Why does tin plating have good solder wetting properties? A: Tin, the metal used in tin plating, has a low melting point of 231.9 degrees Celsius and is also a component metal of solder, allowing it to blend well with molten solder. Even if there is an oxide film on the plating surface, it is soft and easily broken, which means it has little impact on solder wetting properties.

Q: I would like to apply a medium-phosphorus electroless nickel plating as a final coating on aluminum alloy (A5056). Is this possible? If so, what level of corrosion resistance can be expected? A: Based on our experience, we have achieved a corrosion resistance test result of over R.N9.3 for 96 hours in a CASS test on a product with 15μm of medium-phosphorus electroless nickel directly applied to A5056. If we use an Alon plating, the corrosion resistance will further improve. If you provide us with your target corrosion resistance, we can create samples and conduct evaluations.

Q: I would like to ensure electrical properties and corrosion resistance by applying Alon silver plating to aluminum alloy (A5052). Is this possible? A: Yes, it is possible. The corrosion resistance will vary depending on the required performance, but by using "Alon plating," which has high adhesion, to apply a silver plating on the top layer, it is possible to achieve a silver plating that combines high corrosion resistance with the electrical properties of silver.

Q: Is it true that nickel plating on a tin-plated base is effective in preventing metal diffusion into electronic components such as contacts and connectors? A: Yes, it is effective. For example, by placing a nickel plating between copper plating and tin plating, the nickel plating can act as a barrier to prevent copper diffusion into the tin plating.

Q: I would like to add grain patterns (hairline, spin, scratches, etc.). Is that possible? A: Yes, it is possible. Depending on the product shape and requirements, it may be processed by the supplier, but we can accommodate each of your requests.

Q: What is the aluminum material that can achieve the highest surface hardness with hard anodizing? A: The A1000 series and A5000 series. Materials with high aluminum purity can obtain a hard coating. Next is the A6000 series. Among ADC materials, ADC5 and ADC6 are the ones.

Q: Does it comply with WEEE and RoHS regulations? [Chrome plating] A: Chrome plating is a coating of metallic chromium. The substances regulated by the WEEE and RoHS directives are hexavalent chromium compounds, and zero-valent metallic chromium is not included. The metallic chromium coating does not contain hexavalent chromium. Additionally, trivalent chromium plating is an environmentally friendly plating that does not use hexavalent chromium in the plating solution itself.

Q: Is it possible to create a copper plating that does not discolor? A: Ultimately, it will discolor. There are methods to minimize and delay discoloration as much as possible, but copper plating will eventually discolor.

Q: What are the applications of silver plating? A: Silver plating has excellent properties and is used for decorative items with a beautiful silver-white color, electrical components (conductivity, solderability, bonding properties, high-frequency characteristics), and takes advantage of its excellent thermal conductivity. It is also used for preventing galling in screws and bearings due to its lubricating properties. In terms of chemical properties, it is also adopted in products that utilize its high antibacterial properties.

Q: Is it possible to anodize 2000 series and 7000 series Duralumin aluminum? A: Yes, it is possible. Our company anodizes both the 2000 series and 7000 series.

Q: Is it possible to purchase the Alon plating system? A: We do not sell Alon plating chemicals or systems.

Q: Is it possible to apply solderable nickel plating on aluminum? A: Solderable nickel plating (electrolytic nickel plating for soldering) can be applied to aluminum materials. Plating processes such as jig plating and barrel plating are possible. There are no restrictions on the type of aluminum material; it can be applied to rolled aluminum alloys as well as cast aluminum alloys like aluminum die casting without any issues.

Q: Can silver plating be done with barrel plating? A: Yes, barrel plating can be done. The size of the products that can be silver plated depends on the shape and base material, but we can accommodate products as small as about 2x2mm. The size limit is approximately up to products the size of a thumb to an index finger. Please feel free to consult with us.

Q: Is there a comparison table of soldering performance between solderable nickel plating and other types of plating? A: The results of solder wetting evaluation tests conducted using the wetting balance method (equilibrium method) for various platings are included in our document "Soldering Performance Test Data."

Q: I would like to color anodize aluminum die casting (ADC). Is it possible? A: For ADC12, it is possible in black. For ADC5 or ADC6, it is possible to express a certain range of colors. Currently, we are processing titanium gold color on ADC6 material.

Q: Is it possible to plate various aluminum and aluminum die castings? A: Yes, it is possible. Depending on the shape and type of plating, we will choose whether to use fixtures or to plate in a barrel. Plating on aluminum is one of our strengths.

Q: Is it possible to have electromagnetic wave shielding plating? A: Yes, it is possible. Generally, metals provide electromagnetic wave shielding, but the effectiveness of shielding varies depending on the type of metal and the wavelength. The electromagnetic wave shielding plating we handle includes electroless nickel and copper plating. There are also products that have copper plating on aluminum.

Q: Is it true that electroless nickel-boron (Elp-Ni-B) plating is effective as an alternative to hard chrome plating for molds? A: Electroless nickel-boron plating can achieve a hardness of 600-700 HV without heat treatment, which makes it a potential alternative to hard chrome plating for molds. However, the coating is closer to pure nickel and does not possess the same characteristics as hard chrome plating, so it goes without saying that thorough consideration is necessary beforehand.

Q: Is it true that the friction resistance is lower than that of electroplated nickel? [Electroless nickel plating] A: Electroless nickel-phosphorus alloy plating has lower friction resistance than electroplated nickel. It also has excellent wear resistance.

Q: Please tell me about a plating that has good solderability and does not generate whiskers. A: Our solderable nickel plating has solder wetting properties equivalent to tin plating, does not generate whiskers, and is a cost-effective option. Precious metal plating (such as gold, silver, platinum, etc.) also has good solderability and does not generate whiskers, but it is expensive.

Q: Can solderable nickel plating be done with both jigs and barrels? A: Yes, it is possible. Our company has both jig plating lines (static bath plating lines) and barrel plating lines (rotating plating lines) for electric nickel plating "solderable nickel plating," which has solder wettability equivalent to tin plating. We can provide samples for solder wettability evaluation tests, so please feel free to contact us.

Q: Is it possible to plate zinc die castings? A: Yes, it is possible. Our company can accommodate both jig and barrel plating methods. Plating on zinc die castings is one of our strengths.

Q: Is it possible to have plating that complies with RoHS? A: All types of our plating are RoHS compliant. We can also provide all necessary documents such as MSDS. Q: Can you issue environmental-related certificates such as RoHS, REACH, and non-use certificates? A: The environmental-related inquiries and certificate requests we handle from customers are as follows (basic information). Please feel free to contact us.

Q: Is it better for the zinc plating to be thicker? A: Generally, thicker zinc plating improves resistance to red rust. However, resistance to white rust does not depend on the thickness of the zinc plating, but rather on the performance of the chromate treatment coating.

Q: Is it possible to express two colors with anodizing? A: Yes, it is possible. It is called two-color anodizing, where the entire surface is anodized to one color first. The areas where a different color is desired are then re-machined to expose the aluminum, and anodizing is applied only to those areas to achieve a different color. At Taishilbeck, we are currently processing two-color anodizing in black and red.

Q: Is it possible to have tin plating without whiskers? A: No, it is not possible. Tin plating always has the potential to generate whiskers. While applying a nickel plating as a base or reflowing can somewhat suppress their occurrence, it is not complete. Solder is an alloy of tin and lead, and adding lead to tin is effective in suppressing whisker formation. However, due to the RoHS directive, lead cannot be used now, so alternative solder platings such as tin-bismuth, tin-silver, and tin-copper are being developed. However, these also have some effect on whisker suppression, but it is not complete.

Q: Is it possible to apply aluminum nickel plating to aluminum die-cast (ADC12) material using barrel plating? A: Yes, it is possible. Our company has extensive experience with barrel nickel plating on aluminum die-cast ADC12. There are no issues with barrel plating aluminum nickel plating on ADC12.

Q: I would like to measure the hardness of hard anodized aluminum. What thickness in μm would be appropriate to achieve suitable hardness, and is it possible to measure it? A: The hardness of anodized aluminum does not change whether it is 5μm or 50μm. However, when measuring Vickers hardness (Hv), a thickness of at least 20μm is required for micro Vickers. This is because the hardness of the anodized coating is measured in relation to the cross-section of the anodized layer. Vickers hardness is determined by measuring the size of the indentation left by a diamond. If the anodized layer is less than 20μm thick, it is not possible to measure the size of the indentation on that cross-section.

Trivalent chromium plating can be done using barrel plating, but hexavalent chromium plating cannot be done using barrel plating. Our company performs chromium plating using a plating solution with trivalent chromium compounds in a barrel. It has good uniform electrodeposition properties, and trivalent chromium plating adheres well to areas with shapes that are difficult for electricity to reach. For small parts, I believe you can achieve a cost-effective plating appearance and functionality.

Q: Is electroless nickel plating lead-free? [Electroless Nickel Plating] A: Silvex's electroless nickel plating is lead-free. However, before the RoHS directive, lead was added to the electroless nickel plating solution to prevent decomposition. Currently, there are products that use lead as an additive and those that use substances other than lead. Therefore, not all electroless nickel plating is lead-free. If you require lead-free, you need to specify that.

Q: Is it possible to anodize ADC12 (12 types of aluminum die-cast material)? A: Yes, it is possible. At Taisei BEC, we are currently processing anodizing for ADC12 every day. We also have a line specialized for ADC. * Regular anodizing Yashio/Japan ○ Available (Outsourcing: Can be handled by our partner company) Chonburi/Thailand ○ Available (In-house: Die-casting line and coloring line available) * Hard anodizing Yashio/Japan ○ Available (Outsourcing: Can be handled by our partner company) Chonburi/Thailand ○ Available (Outsourcing: Can be handled by our partner company)

Q: Is it possible to plate on bronze? A: Yes, it is possible. Our company can accommodate both jig and barrel plating methods.

Q: When anodizing ADC12, it turned a brownish color. Is there a way to prevent discoloration? A: We sincerely apologize, but we are unable to accommodate that request. When anodizing ADC12, it naturally develops color. The presence of silicon (Si) can affect the coloration, and due to flow patterns during casting, it may also result in an uneven finish. Our company can implement processing methods to minimize this occurrence, but it is not completely preventable.

Q: How thick can silver plating be applied? A: Generally, silver plating can achieve thicknesses of several hundred micrometers, but regardless of silver plating, the risk of variation in plating thickness increases as the thickness increases. We can propose the optimal plating thickness based on your application and purpose, so please feel free to consult us.