| Search our quarter-million Q&As |
Home of the finishing HOTLINE since 1989
-----When to heat treat
Much has been said about hydrogen embrittlement of steel. My question is at what point in the plating process is the baking of the metal done? We have restraint parts(seat belt buckles) that will be plated with copper, nickel,t hen gold.
Thanks for your help.
Anthony Lord- Little Rock, Arkansas
2002
Baking in-between coatings isn't advisable from a practical/quality standpoint and from a cost standpoint. Stopping for an intermittent bake will only oxidize the surface necessitating etching and reactivation which will not only dull down the appearance, but make adhesion much tougher.
What nearly everyone does is plate all 3 deposits and then get the parts right into the oven for baking.
Milt Stevenson, Jr.
Plating shop technical manager - Syracuse, New York
2002
To expand on Milt's answer, many parts that are Rockwell C hardness of 36 and greater are baked before plating as well as after. The bake before relieves residual stresses that might cause cracking during the plating process. If the steel can take it without detriment, 375F for an hour is common.
Good luck!
Lee Gearhart
metallurgist - E. Aurora, New York
2002
Sorry! Finishing.com is temporarily Read-Only.
Ted Mooney is retiring but I have several offers to take it over.
We're working hard to make sure we find it the best new home.