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What is Eutectoid plating?
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Q. In reading through some technical literature, I recently saw the term 'eutectoid plating'. This seemed to be in reference to a co-deposition of a metal and a polymer, but I can't see what that has to do with a eutectoid reaction. To me a eutectoid reaction is one solid solution going to two upon cooling through a set temperature (like a martensitic transformation in steel). Sorry, my metallurgical roots are showing. Perhaps some kind person out there can enlighten me.
Janet Rice
----A. Hello. Eutectoid plating may refer to a codeposition process. I have an old piece of equipment here that utilizes an oxy-acetylene torch system. it was produced by "Eutectic Corp." it is a spray unit that codeposits a polymer/metal powder onto metal. it has been referred to as a kind of "plate",though not in the standard sense of the term. This is normally used for repair/build-up of a base metal, but also has applications for hardness/abrasion resistance.
Ron Landrette
plating equipment supplier - Bristol, Connecticut
----A. This term probably has more than one meaning. However, it may refer to codeposition of an alloy at it's eutectic concentration. As an example solder plate in the electronics field is usually 63% tin and 37% lead. If you looked at an Sn-Pb phase diagram you would find that that is the alloy that gives the lowest melting point or eutectic point.
Paul D. Stransky, CEF
- Putnam, Connecticut
October 24, 2011
A. Two excellent but very different answers. Thanks, folks! Still, I don't think we're quite there yet.
I see the term used in patent claims to describe a composite plating of nickel plus fluorine-based organic materials like Teflon. I would probably call that type of process "composite plating", and the general idea is not unusual. Others (Atotech) have called the process "Niflor®.
But apparently the inventors of this specific process used on inkjet printers, in wanting to patent their process, thought it best to give it a name. Please see Japanese patent 6033300 for "Eutectoid Plating Method".
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
