Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Plating glass fibre
2000
Q. Hi!
I run a motor body repair shop and am involved in restoring classic cars here in Botswana.I have a plating process sold in South Africa for tin plating small items which works quite well.
A friend has asked if it is possible to plate a glass fibre item by copper plating.I realise that the item will probably have to treated probably somewhat like plastics.
Is this possible?
Also how easy is it to plate small items with the yellowish plating seen on many motor parts today?If so where is the process obtainable?
Thanks
Ken
kenneth williamsgaborone
A. You can plate glass fibers; the first step is electroless copper (just like the glass fibers inside a printed circuit board). From there, you can process through copper plating. As far as a yellowish automotive plating, you need to be a little more specific, since I think you are talking about a surface treatment which is not plating (chromate, anodize, etc.)
James Totter, CEF
- Tallahassee, Florida
2000
2000
A. Yes, glass fiber can be plated after activation similar to plating on plastics. Some of the yellow plating can be done using the gold plating systems as advertised in www.finishing.com/equipment/. It is brush plating with gold. Some OEM's may be using sputtering techniques of TiN.
Tom Pullizzi
Falls Township, Pennsylvania
A. Hi Kenneth. Your shop isn't "Speedy Motors" by any chance?
-- Alexander McCall Smith fans will understand, if no one else :-)
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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