Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Plating aluminum without zincating

I need to electroless nickel plate aluminum parts for a space instrument. Zinc is not allowed. When using zincate to prepare the aluminum for the electroless nickel, is there zinc remaining on the part or is all of the zinc removed in the electroless nickel bath.

William Perry
Research and Development - San Antonio, Texas
2003

Good luck! The zinc stays there, and it is very difficult to electroplate aluminum without zincating. The only alternative I've heard of is to electroplate a phosphoric acid anodized aluminum surface, but I don't personally know anyone who has done it.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

Teflon can be applied with a dip process or can be sprayed, after the last rinse but before sealing.

Drew Nosti, CEF
Anodize USA

Ladson, South Carolina

2003

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