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How to coat Viton with a soft metal

Hi,

I am looking to have Viton Plastic coated with a soft metal like gold or silver. Even Indium would be acceptable.

The coating must be hermetic and not develop cracks even microscopically when the Viton rubber is compressed up to 10% of its thickness. The idea is that we are isolating the Viton from the environment it is in.

I have to emphasize that the coating has to be non-porous, microscopically smooth and able to flex slightly under compressive load.

Regards,

John Vanderpot
- Billerica, Massachusetts, USA
February 9, 2011

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Very little info to suggest. You are asking for a manufacturing process but haven't yet decided what metal or alloy you want and why. Your mention of gold or silver appears to point to a chemically aggressive environment or the need of high conductivity. Just remember that even the softer metals are far less elastic and resistant to fatigue than elastomers (orders of magnitude). Few materials under very special conditions are the exception to this rule (superplasticity).
G. Marrufo-Mexico

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
February 10, 2011

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Viton is very chemical resistant, so it will not etch well and thus will have poor adhesion of any plated material.
In the field, if you allow 10% deflection, it will be frequently exceeded by assembly persons.

I doubt if it will work.

As in the previous post, what is it going to do and in what environment?

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
February 10, 2011