Can I plate [insert your metal here] with nickel?
It depends. Certain metals play nice together, others do not. The ones that do not are called "dissimilar metals". In the picture, you'll find a table I borrowed from RFI. The table is designed to let you know when a galvanic reaction might occur causing corrosion. For our purposes, it also tells us which metals are compatible and which are not. The lower the magnitude of the number (aka the absolute value), the more compatible (ie similar) the metals will be. If you are trying to plate a metal that is not compatible, you may need to plate with copper or another metal first. You can find my copper plating instructable here: https://www.instructables.com/id/High-Quality-Copper-Plating/
How do I plate non-conductive objects?
First, you need to make them conductive. You can do this with conductive paints, conductive glues, and even metal leaf (think gold leaf) as long as whatever you are coating your surface with is not water soluble. I haven't experimented much with this myself which means you will have to. Send me a message with your results and I'll post them here for others to reference.
How much voltage/current do I need?
As little as possible. The lower the voltage and current, the better results you will get. You need a minimum of 0.5V DC to plate with copper. A C or D cell battery will give you pretty decent results. If you don't have access to lower voltages, you can put the electrolyte into a big container and move your electrodes as far away from another as you can - the increase in distance will also increase the resistance of the circuit and decrease the current.
Can I use other acids other than acetic acid (vinegar)?
Yes.....but be careful... This instructable was written for average Joes and Jolenes, not chemists. Other acids can be significantly dangerous as well as release some very nasty, very toxic chemicals into the air. Unless you are an experience chemist (ie you have an actual degree, not just AP Chem in high school or Chem 111 in college), I would not recommend playing with other chemicals.
Is plating coins illegal?
The first thing I want to point out is that I'm only using coins because they are everywhere and cheap by definition. The copper and nickel content make them ideal for small experiments. This isn't a "how to plate coins" instructable, they are just handy and recognizable. For those of you who took high school chem lab, you probably used quarters, dimes, and pennies for a couple different classroom experiments.
As far as the legality of plating coins, to my understanding, it is legal as long as you 1) Aren't removing metal from the coins with intent to sell that metal, 2) Are not trying to pass them as something they are not (ie a copper plated dime is worth 10 cents, nothing more), and 3) Aren't defacing the coins for malicious intent. As a personal disclaimer, this is MY understanding - take it with a grain of salt. If this is incorrect, I would welcome a friendly or message from the US Treasury or other qualified persons.
Can I plate Aluminum?
I would avoid it. Aluminum is just one of those metals that don't plate well. If you are looking for a corrosion-resistant finish, you can anodize the aluminum to create a clear oxide layer that is extremely corrosion resistant. If you are looking for a colored finish, you can get dyes that absorb into the oxide layer and stain it whatever color you want (this is actually what Apple and other companies do to make different colored iPods).
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Nickel Base Alloy.
Some metals are more popular than others, but each construction metal offers its own unique benefits and drawbacks. The following profiles offer a starting point for selecting an appropriate material for your project, though you&#;ll want to consult with an expert throughout the design process.
Cold rolled steel is produced using a different process than hot rolled steel, resulting in different and extremely versatile properties. One advantage of the process is that it produces closer tolerances and more exact dimensions because the product undergoes more extensive shaping before cooling. It is available in high strength grades that can tolerate high loads, making it suitable for heavy-wear automotive, industrial, and construction applications. However, as an extremely versatile material with good drawability, cold rolled steel is also suitable for smaller applications, including consumer goods and furniture. Hudson&#;s cold rolled steels - are cost-effective for any of these uses.
Stainless steel is one of the most desirable construction materials, offering resistance to extreme temperatures and corrosion along with superior strength. On top of having these functional physical properties, stainless steel is also easy to work with and results in an aesthetically pleasing finish. This material is typical of the automotive, chemical, and food and beverage industries, and we offer Hudson Technologies grades 304L, 316L, 347, and 350 to suit the needs of these industrial clients. These 300 Series stainless steels are composed of 16&#;26% chromium and up to 35% nickel.
Aluminum is a low-cost, sustainable option that still offers corrosion resistance, durability, malleability, and ductility. Aluminum is commonly incorporated into alloys to increase its versatility and strength, but even on its own, aluminum is a staple of the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, automotive, electronic, and construction industries. It is used for everything from medical instruments to cooking utensils and aircraft components. Hudson&#;s aluminum offerings include -0, -0, -0, and -0.
Copper is another metal that offers superior resistance qualities, including to corrosive chemicals and water. In addition to this advantage, it is also formable, ductile, and malleable, enabling diverse applications across the electronics, construction, aerospace, and automotive industries. In these contexts, copper functions in solar units, air conditioners, transformers, motors, and cables, among other things. Copper also has well-documented antimicrobial properties that can be advantageous in the food and beverage and medical industries.
Like copper, brass resists corrosion from chemicals and water, and it has a similarly attractive finish, making it desirable when aesthetics are a concern. As an alloy of zinc and copper, the characteristics of brass will vary with the ratio of its constituents. Brass 70/30 and 85/15 (yellow cartridge and red brass, respectively), are solderable and drawable, meaning that they are excellent candidates for plates and solders. Other alloys may be chosen for different applications, depending on the desired features. The most common uses are for bearings, fasteners, valves, and electronics throughout multiple industries.
A less common choice, hastelloy is nonetheless valuable for certain applications. The alloy consists of varying combinations of molybdenum, chromium, and nickel, and offers a number of beneficial physical characteristics. It is highly drawable and resistant to heat and chemicals, including acid catalysts and halides, making it ideal for certain chemical and processing environments.
Monel consists of nickel-cobalt alloys that grant it reliable strength and resistance to both corrosion and extreme temperatures. However, monel is quite expensive, so it is only preferable when other metals won&#;t suffice. This generally translates to more rigorous operating conditions such as those experienced in chemical processing or the oil and gas industries. Monel is also notably used in the marine industry as a key component of valves, wiring, and piping.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of NiCr Alloy. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Titanium is slightly heavier than aluminum but offers similar strength and corrosion resistance. Its key advantage is its reliable strength-to-weight ratio, which makes it extremely popular for military, architectural, and aerospace applications. Such uses include landing gear components, fasteners and springs, tubing, and similar structures. Titanium also boasts complete biocompatibility, meaning that it is inert and resistant to corrosion from bodily fluids. Predictably, this makes titanium extremely valuable for medical applications. Titanium alloy grades 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 23 are available from Hudson Technologies.
Kovar represents another metal with an important niche in the medical industry. A low-expansion, vacuum-melted alloy of iron, nickel, and cobalt, Kovar finds its way into laser and X-ray tubes, radiation devices, and hermetic seals. The alloy is also useful for deep drawing applications due to its consistent quality and drawability.
An alloy of nickel, iron, and molybdenum, Hy-Mu 80&#;s chief draw is its electromagnetic resistance. Because of this unique property, Hy-Mu 80 is often chosen as a shielding material to insulate sensitive electronics. This application is important in the aerospace, medical, and military industries to protect electronics, transformer cores, toroids, and other critical devices.
Cupronickel 715 is an alloy consisting mainly of copper and nickel, though it is often reinforced with manganese and iron. Its advantageous properties include ductility, drawability, and high resistance to corrosion in seawater. The latter characteristic predictably makes cupronickel 715 an ideal choice for marine and fishing applications, including propellers, hulls, and crankshafts. It is also commonly used for coin and medal minting as well as for varied applications in the aerospace, electrical, and chemical industries.
Comprised of nickel, copper, and zinc, nickel silver alloys are beneficial for electronic applications like lead wires, battery casings, heating coils, and fuel cells. These uses are possible primarily because of nickel silver alloys&#; ability to resist electrical stimulation while still offering conductivity and corrosion resistance. Nickel silver alloys are also highly machinable and malleable, enabling intricate structures like those used in fasteners, jewelry, and musical instrument components.
Haynes 242 is a unique alloy consisting of nickel, molybdenum, and chromium, the combination of which grants properties like oxidation resistance and low thermal expansion. Because Haynes 242 is so durable under harsh temperature conditions, it is commonly used in the aerospace industry for components like containment and seal rings, pumps, and rocket nozzles.
Despite its unwieldy name, 17-7 Precipitation-Hardening Stainless Steel is commonly requested for many industrial applications thanks to its superior hardness and strength. 17-7 PH is corrosion resistant, easily formable, and resistant to fatigue and deformation. This set of advantages makes the alloy useful in chemical processing equipment, power boilers, and durable fasteners and springs, especially in the aerospace, oil, and chemical processing industries.
Hudson Technologies offers grades 625 and 718 of Inconel, a nickel-based alloy that offers corrosion and heat resistance and beneficial drawing properties. Its durability and resistance make it suitable for products like propeller blades and rotors, pressure vessels, and heat exchanger tubing. Common industries for Inconel, then, include not only the aerospace industry but also electronics, medical, chemical, automotive, and marine manufacturing.
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