Sequence of the coating
The coating of a workpiece normally takes place in several steps, whereby different layers are deposited on the surface of the object. Each of these layers has important properties for a professional result.
Depending on the material and the condition of the surface, pre-treatment is required. For example, acid-sensitive materials such as zinc require a layer applied with alkaline copper plating solution before coating with acidic copper electrolyte. Aluminum is pre-treated with aluminum activator and copper requires a thin layer of palladium before the nickel layer is applied without current.
Practical structure of the layer sequence after pre-treatment:
- Glossy copper for good leveling
- Nickel as a diffusion barrier layer
- Gold, silver or chrome as a final layer
The last layer is normally only applied thinly.
