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Low temperature limit for zinc plated parts

Q. I have seen a lot of information regarding high temperature limits for zinc plate. What about low limits?
I have a customer that is immersing zinc plated parts in liquid nitrogen pre-installation and they are experiencing the plating peeling. Is this caused by the low temp?

Bob Newkirk
Adept Fasteners Inc. - Valencia, California
May 24, 2018

A. You would have to check the thermal expansion/contraction of the steel and zinc.

George Shahin
Atotech - Rock Hill, South Carolina
June 13, 2018

June 13, 2018

A. Hi Bob
The actual low temperature is unlikely to be the root cause.
Thermal shock is a well known test for plating adhesion and going from room temperature to liquid nitrogen is a pretty extreme shock.
You should look at the pre-treatment of the parts and particularly confirm that they pass a water break test.

Geoff Smith
Hampshire, England

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