Summary for brass plating plant setup Discussion
Brass plating plant setup is a broad topic, and the thread advises starting with a finishing consultant and basic plating references rather than trying to solve everything at once. The original question from K. Murugan asked how to brass plate CRCA mild steel and aluminum sheets, what processes to use (cyanide or non-cyanide), what undercoat is best, required thicknesses, lacquer options, the operation sequence, and what to consider for a plant. In reply, the answer notes that aluminum must be zincated before plating, and that non-cyanide brass processes exist but are usually limited in practicality. For bright decorative brass, the easiest route is nickel undercoat followed by a flash of brass; for heavy brass, an undercoat may not be needed. The sequence given is alkaline cleaning, acid activation, nickel plating, brass plating, anti-tarnish dip, and lacquering. The MFSA Quality Metal Finishing Guide is recommended for nickel thickness guidance.
Q. Dear Metal finisher
I would like to hear from you on the following:
How do brass plate CRCA mildsteel and aluminium substrate (sheets)?
– What are the options available in processes of plating
(like cyanide, non-cyanide, etc)
– What is the better undercoats (nickel or copper) for MS?
– What are the thickness requirements of undercoat, and brass?
– What lacquers and lacquer application processes available?
– What is the sequence of operation?
– What are all the things should I consider, if I need to set up a brass coating plant?
Your help is very much appreciated.
Regards,
K. Murugan
-India
1999
A. “What are all the things I should consider if I need to set up a brass coating plant?” is a question of awfully wide scope, Mr. Murugan, and it is best to be guided by a finishing consultant for such projects :-)
But you could get hold of a few plating books, flip through them for a few days, and get back to us with specific questions. To steer you in such reading:
– Aluminum must be zincated before you can plate on it
– Non-cyanide brass plating processes exist, but are usually limited in practicality
– The undercoat depends on the function. If you are looking for bright decorative brass, the easiest way to get the look is to nickel plate it, then a flash of brass. If you want heavy brass, you may not need any undercoat.
– The MFSA Quality Metal Finishing Guide will tell you how much nickel you should use for your conditions; the brass thickness is not critical is you are lacquering the objects.
– The sequence of operation will include alkaline cleaning, acid activation, nickel plating, brass plating, anti-tarnish dip, and lacquering as a minimum. Good luck!
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
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