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Hair like growth on small nuts from what?

We are seeing hair like growth of zinc inside small nut and tub parts.

We have scraped the particle off and dissolved in hydrochloric acid and found it to be zinc not steel shavings. Has anyone seen this what are possible causes.

Jeff Schafer
plating shop - Jackson, Michigan
2004

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First of two simultaneous responses -- 2004

Let me get this right - you SHAVED the zinc plating and it turned out to be 100% zinc plating? Obviously, you've got a WHISKERING problem! Whiskers have long been noted on soft plated metals including zinc, cadmium and tin. Typically alloying these with a small amount of another material, such as lead or bismuth in the case of tin, retards growth of whiskers. The internet is full of websites detailing what they are, where they come from and how to avoid.

Good luck and remember, even the closest SHAVE won't prevent the NUBS and eventually WHISKERS from returning!

Milt Stevenson, Jr.
Syracuse, New York

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Second of two simultaneous responses -- 2004

Jeff, tell us more about which zinc process you use. If you use acid zinc I believe the particle can be zincborate.

Regards

Anders Sundman
4th Generation Surface Engineering
Consultant - Arvika,
Sweden