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Electrogalvanizing vs. zinc electroplating
Q. What is the difference between electro-galvanizing and bright zinc plating? We have a subassembly that has a standard black oxide finish on all of the components. A customer wants the unit galvanized. Due to close operating tolerances it cannot be hot-dipped galvanized. The next best solution looks like electro-galvanizing which is not particularly common for small parts. There are several plating companies in our area that do bright zinc plating; is this a viable alternative to electro-galvanizing. What are the advantages/disadvantages of one vs. the other?
Lee SmeltzOEM Material Handling Equipment - Lansdale, Pennsylvania
2004
A. I do not believe that there is any difference at all between zinc electroplating and electro-galvanizing, Lee.
My guess is that the term "electrogalvanizing" was invented for obfuscation so that zinc plating could ride the coattails of the heavier and therefore more corrosion resistant hot dip galvanizing :-)
The term seemed to start in the coil/strip industry, where coil processors may tend to call the process electrogalvanizing, whereas most processors of discrete parts call their process zinc electroplating.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2004
Q. Is electro galvanised and zinc plated the same thing?
I have a zinc plated chain that I'm installing at a beach. The customer wanted galvanised.
The company that sold me the chain said it was electro-galvanised but the packaging says that the chain is zinc-plated.
Is the chain durable to be installed in a beach environment?
Installer - SYDNEY N.S.W., Australia
A. Hi, Alan. "Zinc plated" and "electrogalvanized" are the same thing. The coating is usually much thinner than hot dip galvanizing and therefore much less corrosion resistant. If I were the buyer I would not accept it on a chain for beach duty. Zinc electroplating will not survive very long on chain at a beach.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
April 19, 2010
Q. I'm looking for this information: how the layer of zinc (by electrogalvanizing process) will influence the roughness of a steel strip.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Marc H [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Charlotte, North Carolina
2001
A. Hi Marc. Obviously, "it depends". But zinc electroplating will produce a quite smooth finish, so the roughness usually will not increase significantly. On the other hand, it will not "fill in" scratches. So the answer may not quite be "no effect" . . . but that's probably close enough for a first cut estimate in the general case.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
February 12, 2013
Q. We have a steel powder-coated chassis with many "paint-free" areas for grounding. Is there a dark color plating process that does not add much thickness yet still is conductive so "paint-free" areas are not required. What is the thickness added in black zinc plating?
Jonathan HolbrookPOS Equipment - Cumming, Georgia USA
December 10, 2018
A. Hi Jonathan. The typical zinc plating thickness for mild service conditions is 5 µm (0.0002"). But 'conductive' is not a go/no-go parameter. It will probably be conductive enough for safety grounding, but certainly not conductive enough for digital signals.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
December 2018
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