Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

-----

Procurement analyst asks about tape damaging pre-plate

What are the repercussions of the use of clear tape or any kind of tape for that matter, on pre-plated sheet metal parts? Can this cause any imperfections on material, even if the tape is removed from material before processing? If any glue or pieces of tape stay attached what can they cause to the plating process?

Thank you in advance for your help and support.

Renato Gianola
contractor - Calexico, California, USA
2003

---

Your question is phrased as an abstract hypothetical, Renato, and consequently I am having difficulty understanding you. You seem to be talking about tape that is on pre-plated sheet, but then you ask what problems this will cause to the plating process--which seems like it would pre-date the tape being put on the sheet.

Please don't continue in such an abstract fashion, but tell us the actual real-world situation you are talking about. Is this a little piece of scotch tape, used as a temporary label, and a sheet got damaged. Are you considering applying tape as a protective coating during processing? Or maybe for shipping?

Thanks,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

Can it damage the existing plate? Not really, but there are always exceptions. Can it interfere with a follow on plating? You bet it can. Big time!

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2003

Yes, sorry for the misunderstanding. I'm talking about scotch tape that's used to label product before it gets plated. Sometines little pieces that are hard to detect stay stuck with the parts as they go into the tanks. Sometimes is just the glue... Please advise! Thanks for the quick reply.

Renato Gianola
- Calexico, California, USA
2003

---

Yep, that's trouble as James notes, and you've recognized it. That means you need to institute a corrective action plan such as no tape, or a different type of type, or--I don't know, maybe a procedure of wiping with acetone [on eBay or Amazon] each time a label is removed. The latter doesn't really sound practical to me, but is just an example. Does the product have an accessible 'back side' you could label?

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003