News

How Plating Affects Dimensions

Here at Silchrome we are often asked the impact that a metal finishing process will have on the dimensional tolerance of a component. Here is a broad overview we hope will answer many of your questions.

Amount Added

Most metal finishing processes such as electro-plating or paint and

You asked: Can you Anodise Stainless Steel?

We sometimes get enquiries asking if it’s possible to anodise Carbon and Mild Steels. Most often this is being done for decorative rather protective reasons, with customers looking for a uniform and flake free coating. The short answer is that no, Silchrome cannot offer anodising on steels

Zinc Passivation Colours

Zinc Plating is always accompanied by a Passivation process which will often have a colour associated with it. The difference between these colours and what exactly they are specifying can be a little confusing so here is a quick guide to some often misunderstood terms.

Blue Passivate -

2 New Process Worker Roles Available

Silchrome Plating are proud to be expanding our thriving metal finishing business through the addition of 2 new process workers, at our facility in leeds, West Yorkshire. Morer details below:

Job Title: Process Worker

Job Type: Permanent

Location: Silchrome Plating Ltd, Barras Garth

Chemical Blacking vs Xylan Black

When it comes to producing an aesthetically pleasing matte black finish, the range of options can be quite confusing. Two of the most popular of these processes are Chemical Blacking and Xylan coating, but which process sis better for which situation?

What is Chemical Blacking?

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Tin Whiskers

Tin Whiskers are electrically conductive, hair like structures that can grow on surfaces that have been electroplated with pure Tin. This causes failures within electronic components and represents a challenge for manufacturers looking to eliminate lead from production whilst keeping failure

Zinc Plating wIth JS500

Silchrome Plating are proud to be one of Macdermid’s licensed vendors to carry out Zinc Plating with JS500, here are more details on the advantages of this process.

What is JS500?

JS500 is a water based sealant that can be used as a finishing process in conjunction with Zinc

A Quick Guide To Everything We Offer

Silchrome Plating offer a wide array of metal finishing processes, many containing their own subcategories and finishing options. Here is an overview:

Electroplating

The electro-plating process involves taking your component and placing it into a vat/tank containing an electrolytic

Tin Plating To Replace Lead

Tin Plating To Replace Lead

The Manufacturing industry at large have been looking at the best ways to produce components that are not only fit for purpose but will have as little environmental impact on the earth as possible. RoHS or the Reduction of Hazardous Substances is a directive that

3 Types of Blacking

Chemical Blacking is a popular options for customers looking for a matte black finish that will enhance corrosion resistance without causing dimensional changes. Silchrome Plating offer 3 varieties of chemical blacking for different materials.

Also Known As…

Chemical Blacking is a process

FAQs about Plating Thickness

Here are some commonly asked questions about plating thickness.

Units

Plating thickness is measured in Micrometres which are commonly referred to as Microns. The symbol for Microns is μm, but it is not unusual for this to be written as um. A micron is one thousandth of a millimetre or

Which Finish? 4 Crucial Factors.

Extending a component’s life span is crucial in any industry, but selecting a metal finishing process is often like opening a can of worms. Not only are there a wide variety of processes to choose from but many have their own sub-categories (3 types of Electroless Nickel for example) not to

3 Types of Phosphating

Phosphating is a conversion coating applied to Steel and Iron components. In its basic form, the process involves immersing a component in a dilute solution, which converts the surface of the metal into a layer of microscopic Phosphate Crystals. The crystalline nature of this coating

You Asked: What Is a Salt Spray Test?

A Salt Spray Test accelerates the normal rate of corrosion a component would undergo in order to evaluate the suitability of a protective coating. The appearance of corrosion (such as rust, blisters, peeling) is evaluated after set amounts of time to judge comparatively the effectiveness of any

You asked: What are Sacrificial Coatings?

Metal finishing processes such as Zinc Plating are described as being ‘sacrificial’ in nature, but what does this term actually refer to?

Oxidation

When metals such as Steel are exposed to the elements they will often undergo a process called Oxidation which is corrosive in nature. Iron

Benefits of Zinc Plating

Zinc Plating with Passivate is one of the most popular metal finishing processes for a wide range of components including screws, fasteners as well pressings and automotive components. It is popular for a number of reasons:

Low Cost: Zinc as a material is abundant in nature within the