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Blue Zinc Plating Advantages - Some Compelling Reasons Why Many Companies Prefer This Process

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

By Roy van Rivero


Metal plating (electroplating, in particular) is an industrial process that uses electrical current to coat a substrate with a thin layer of metal specifically done for corrosion resistance and decorative purposes. This can be applied to various types of metal used in different industries, including the aeronautics, construction, automobile sectors.

There are a number of electroplating services available today and one that is considered more popular is blue zinc plating. Many companies prefer the said process and some of the compelling reasons why is that so are the following:

Glossy surface, bluish color finish - contrary to the popular belief, blue zinc plating does not use blue oxide coating or dye to make it appear blue, but rather a colorless or "clear" passivates that gives transparent or bluish results. Hence, blue zinc plating is also called "clear zinc plating".

Excellent decorative features - the treated substrate is bluish and that makes it appear more clean and shiny. This is why many companies consider blue zinc plating an excellent choice most especially if aesthetic is one of the concerns.

Corrosion resistance - Studies have proven that blue zinc plating is 2 to 3 times higher corrosion resistant than the usual decorative white zinc plating. Such characteristic is relevant most especially that resistance to rusting is one of the primary concerns in metal material production.

Wear and tear resistance - aside from resistance to corrosion, another good reason why blue zinc plating is a prime choice by many companies is its wear and tear resistance - can withstand the damage caused by mechanical stress more than the other conventional plating processes ; a blue zinc plated substrate is proven to last longer and therefore could be a more economical choice.

Free from Cr6+ compounds - blue zinc plating is free from Cr6+ compounds (also known as hexavalent chromium compounds) that are genotoxic carcinogens. It has been found that chronic inhalation of these compounds increases the risk of lung cancer as it is the lung is the most vulnerable (of all the body systems) to these toxins.

Meets the requirements of RoHS directive - blue zinc plating is one of the plating processes that meet the standards imposed under the RoHS directive commonly known as the restriction of hazardous substances directive, which is designed to regulate or even totally eliminate the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

With the reasons discussed above, it is true enough that blue zinc plating provides a number of advantages that can help companies in various industries achieve their goals when it comes to using the right plated metals - whether the concern is quality or economy.




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