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Plating a Non-Conductive Coating onto Zinc Die-Castings

I am presently hard anodizing machined aluminum parts for insulating reasons, to prevent hipotting between metal components. Space constraints prevent me from applying a plastic insulator. I looking to die-cast my parts in zinc and am researching the possibilities of a coating for zinc which could act as an insulator.

Stephen Glaser
Telect Inc - Liberty Lake, Washington USA
2001

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2001

You probably know this, Mr. Glaser, but your parts could be die-cast in aluminum and you could continue to use the anodized coating as an insulator.

There are no non-conductive electroplatings just due to the way electroplating of metals works. You might be able to electrolytically apply an electrophoretic paint of some sort, but I doubt that it would have robust insulating qualities.

You might want to investigate anodizing of zinc. This is a more exotic technology than anodizing of aluminum because it requires rectifiers which can deliver 100-200 volts, which most plating/anodizing shops don't have and don't want due to the electrocution hazard because most shops use exposed bus bars.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
(Ted can offer longterm or instant help)
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

I have heard of a non conductive coating that is called Whycoat; the company that supplies the Whycoat finish is Whyco Technologies in Thomaston CT. Check them out

Brian Lucas
- Wolcott, CT USA
2001

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