Surface treatment is a technique for creating a surface layer with mechanical, physical, and chemical characteristics distinct from the base material.
The goal of surface treatment is to satisfy the product’s unique functional requirements for corrosion resistance, wear resistance, ornamentation, and other factors. Mechanical grinding, chemical treatment, surface heat treatment, and surface spraying are some of our more often utilized surface treatment techniques. The purpose of surface treatment is to clean, broom, deburr, degrease, and descale the workpiece’s surface. We shall study the procedure for surface treatment today.
Vacuum electroplating, electroplating, anodizing, electrolytic polishing, pad printing, galvanizing, powder coating, water transfer printing, screen printing, electrophoresis, and other surface treatment techniques are frequently employed.
A physical deposition phenomena is vacuum plating. The target material is divided into molecules that are absorbed by conductive materials to generate a consistent and smooth imitation metal surface layer when argon gas is introduced in a vacuum condition and hits the target material.
Materials that apply:
1. A wide variety of materials, including metals, soft and hard polymers, composite materials, ceramics, and glass, can be vacuum plated. Aluminum is the material most frequently electroplated, followed by silver and copper.
2. Because the moisture in natural materials will impact the vacuum environment, natural materials are not appropriate for vacuum plating.
Process cost: The labor cost for vacuum plating is fairly high because the workpiece must be sprayed, loaded, unloaded, and re-sprayed. However, the complexity and quantity of the workpiece also play a role in the labor cost.
Environmental impact: Vacuum electroplating causes about as little harm to the environment as spraying.
With the help of an electric current, atoms of a workpiece submerged in an electrolyte are transformed into ions and removed from the surface during the electrochemical process of “electroplating,” which removes small burrs and brightens the workpiece’s surface.
Materials that apply:
1. The majority of metals can be electrolytically polished, with stainless steel surface polishing being the most popular use (particularly for austenitic nuclear grade stainless steel).
2. It is impossible to electropolish many materials simultaneously or even in the same electrolytic solution.
operation cost: Because electrolytic polishing is essentially a fully automated operation, labor costs are relatively minimal. Impact on the environment: Electrolytic polishing utilizes fewer hazardous chemicals. It is simple to use and just needs a minimal bit of water to complete the operation. Additionally, it can prevent corrosion of stainless steel and extend the qualities of stainless steel.
3. Pad printing technique
Today, one of the most crucial special printing techniques is the ability to print text, graphics, and images on the surface of objects with irregular shapes.
Almost all materials can be utilized for pad printing, with the exception of those that are softer than silicone pads, including PTFE.
Low labor and mold costs are associated with the process.
Environmental impact: This procedure has a high environmental impact because it only works with soluble inks, which are made of hazardous chemicals.
4. the zinc-plating procedure
a method of surface modification that coats steel alloy materials in a layer of zinc for aesthetic and anti-rust properties. An electrochemical protective layer, the zinc layer on the surface can stop metal corrosion. Galvanizing and hot-dip galvanizing are the two most used techniques.
Materials that can be applied: Because the galvanizing process depends on metallurgical bonding technology, it can only be used to treat the surfaces of steel and iron.
Process cost: short cycle/medium labor cost, no mold cost. This is because the workpiece’s surface quality is heavily dependent on the physical surface preparation done before galvanizing.
Environmental impact: The galvanizing process has a positive influence on the environment by extending the service life of steel components by 40–100 years and preventing rust and corrosion of the workpiece. Additionally, the recurrent use of liquid zinc won’t result in chemical or physical waste, and the galvanized workpiece can be put back in the galvanizing tank once its useful life has passed.
the electrolytic process of applying a coating of metal film on component surfaces in order to improve wear resistance, conductivity, light reflection, corrosion resistance, and aesthetics. Numerous coins also have electroplating on their exterior layer.
Materials that apply:
1. The majority of metals can be electroplated, however the purity and effectiveness of plating vary among various metals. Among them, tin, chromium, nickel, silver, gold, and rhodium are the most prevalent.
2. ABS is the material that is electroplated the most frequently.
3. Because nickel is hazardous to the skin and irritant, it cannot be used to electroplate anything that come into contact with the skin.
Process cost: no mold cost, but fixtures are needed to fix the components; time cost varies with temperature and metal type; labor cost (medium-high); depending on type of individual plating pieces; for example, plating cutlery and jewelry demands highly high labor costs. Due of its strict standards for durability and beauty, it is managed by highly qualified personnel.
Environmental impact: Because the electroplating process uses so many harmful materials, expert diversion and extraction are necessary to ensure minimal environmental damage.
Post time: Jul-07-2023
