Metal finishers helping each other -- No cost, No registration, No damn popups
(we earn from 'affiliate link' purchases, making the site possible)

Home /
T.O.C.
Fun
FAQs
Good
Books
Ref.
Libr.
Adver-
tise
Help
Wanted
Current
Q&A's
Site 🔍
Search
ted_yosem
Curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry

  The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing 1989-2025
  mfhotline


  Thread 122/23

Can a Bimetallic Al/Cu Chassis be Plated?





I have an application where I swage a copper plug into an aluminum chassis. I'd like to electroless nickel plate the entire chassis after the swaging process. Can this be done? I assume it may be a problem because the cleaning processes used for each metal is different and may etch the other. Any info or suggestion would be helpful. The plating/coating needs to be electrically conductive. Currently I plate the chassis and plug separately and conductively bond the plug into the chassis.

Dave Laidig
publicly reply to Dave Laidig


 

Dave:

Electroless Ni can be done. You have to use a mild cleaner, zincate the assembly and go to a cyanide copper, followed by a Ni strike and then the EN. None of this will damage your two metals. A good prior cleaning of both parts before assembling together with a judicious elimination of potential contaminants in the joint will obviously help success (no drawing greases or silicon compounds is a must).

Guillermo Marrufo
publicly reply to Guillermo Marrufo



(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories:

Finishing
Jobshops
Capital
Equipment
Chemicals &
Consumables
Consult'g,
& Software


About/Contact  -  Privacy Policy  -  ©1995-2025 finishing.com, Pine Beach, New Jersey, USA  -  about "affil links"