In the production process of hydraulic manifolds, surface treatment plays a crucial role. We most commonly use electroplating and blackening to treat the surface of hydraulic manifolds. Plating includes specific processes such as copper plating, gold plating, silver plating, chromium plating, nickel plating, and zinc plating. In designing and producing hydraulic manifolds, we most commonly use nickel plating, zinc plating, and chromium plating. Blackening is also commonly applied. The following Zhuo Yi hydraulic to introduce the difference between these four.
Firstly let’s understand what plating is:
Electroplating is the use of electrolysis in some metal surface plated with a thin layer of other metals or alloys, is the use of electrolysis to make the surface of the metal or other material parts attached to a layer of metal film of the process so as to play a role in preventing oxidation of the metal (eg, corrosion), to improve abrasion resistance, electrical conductivity, reflective, corrosion (copper sulphate, etc.) and enhance the role of the aesthetics and so on.
nickel-plated
Definition: The method of plating a layer of nickel on metal or some non-metal by electrolysis or chemical method is called nickel plating.
Characteristics: It looks attractive and serves as decoration. Its high price and slightly complex process are notable. It displays a silver-white color with a yellowish tint.
Application: energy-saving lamp head, coins and so on.
galvanisation
Definition: Zinc plating is a surface treatment technique to coat the surface of metals, alloys or other materials with a layer of zinc in order to provide a beautiful appearance and prevent rust.
Characteristics: Low cost, general corrosion protection, silver-white colour.
Application: Screws, circuit breakers, industrial supplies, etc.
chrome-plated
Definition: Chromium is a silvery-white metal with a slight bluish tinge. Plating a layer of chromium on a metal or some non-metal using electrolytic or chemical methods is called chromium plating.
Characteristics: There are two kinds of chrome plating, the first is to play a decorative role, the appearance of bright, wear-resistant rubbing performance is better, the ability to prevent rust is not as good as zinc plating, better than oxidation; the second is to increase the hardness of the metal parts, abrasion resistance, etc., which is the functionality of the parts.
Application: Bright decorative parts on home appliances, electronics and other products, taps, etc.
hydraulic manifolds
Then we’ll learn more about what a blackening treatment is:
Blackening is a common means of chemical surface treatment, the principle is to produce a layer of oxide film on the surface of the metal to isolate the air and achieve the purpose of rust prevention. Use blackening when the appearance requirements are not high. The surface blackening treatment of steel parts is also known as bluing.
alkali blackening
Immerse steel in a concentrated sodium hydroxide solution containing oxidizing agents like sodium nitrate or sodium nitrite at temperatures higher than 130 degrees Celsius for oxidation treatment. This process produces a layer of protective black oxide film, commonly known as blackening or hair orchid. This black film has limited protective ability, so it is generally necessary to use neutral oil for closed treatment to improve its protective binding ability.
acid blackening
Acid oxidation consisting of copper salts, selenite and phosphate. The process involves immersing steel in a solution and oxidizing it at room temperature. This method improves the bonding force, blackness, and stability of the oxide film layer. The resulting quality can match that of high-temperature alkaline oxidation. The market offers a variety of blackening agents for purchase.
Expanding Knowledge:
① Heavy metal pollution from electroplating production mainly dominates the issue in sewage and effluent. The country has strictly controlled the expansion of the electroplating industry and has reduced it year by year.
② Electroplating processing in China is mainly zinc plating, copper plating, nickel plating, chromium plating, of which zinc plating accounts for 50%, copper plating, chromium plating and nickel plating accounts for 30%.
③If you aim to prevent rust, use zinc plating or cadmium plating. If you focus on preventing wear and tear, choose nickel plating or chromium plating.
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