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Plating on Magnesium

I have had some inquiries for plating on magnesium. Can anyone suggest some good sources for processing and some of the "Watchouts" attached to the process. My in house library doesn"t have much. Any help is welcome. Chris

Chris Hammer
- WNY, NJ

Don't forget that chips and shavings are flammable if you are doing any mechanical work on the parts. Magnesium parts must either be zincated or nickel plated, and in either case the zincating or nickel plating must be preceded by rather detailed pickling sequences. Volume 5: Surface Engineering of the ASM Metals Handbook has a great chapter on Magnesium Finishing--at least my ninth edition does.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

I have seen work done by a company in New Zealand [Auckland Aluminium Limited, Auckland] that is a form of anodising magnesium - very interesting..

Hamish Hawthorn
- Australia

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