Common Uses and Special Characteristics of Solutions and Deposits

Cadmium	2020	Same as tank electroplates, cathodic (sacrificial) corrosion protection of iron, cast iron, etc. Anti-gall coating on threads	Fastest plating cadmium on small areas Embrittles material susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement Solution dissolves cadmium and is not used for touch-up
Cadmium	2021	Same as tank electroplates, cathodic (sacrificial) corrosion protection of iron, cast iron, etc. Anti-gall coating on threads	Fairly low hydrogen embrittlement tendency as plated Porous structure permits baking to be used for hydrogen embrittlement relief Solution does not attack cadmium and can be used for touch-ups
Cadmium	2022	Same as tank electroplates, cathodic (sacrificial) corrosion protection of iron, cast iron, etc. Anti-gall coating on threads	Very dense cadmium Extremely low hydrogen embrittlement tendency as plated Does not require bake for hydrogen embrittlement relief and should not be baked Should be used with a Cadmium Code 1032 preplate on steel
Cadmium No-Bake	2023	Same as tank electroplates, cathodic (sacrificial) corrosion protection of iron, cast iron, etc. Anti-gall coating on threads	Extremely low hydrogen embrittlement tendency as plated Does not require bake for embrittlement relief, but microporous structure permits baking to be performed Approved by Boeing, Douglas, US Navy, and MIL-STD 865C for use on high strength steels with no post plating bake required
Chromium	2030	Used to a very limited extent for small build-ups on OD and ID where chromium is absolutely essential Corrosion protection in oxidizing environments Provide maximum wear resistance Nonn-wetting release coating for plastic or rubber molds	Easiest chromium to plate, but still difficult to use Deposit brittle and limited to 50µm (0.002 in.) thickness Slow plating Bluer than most chromium plating
Chromium	2031	Touching-up decorative bath chromium Thin overlay 12.5 µm (0.0005 in. or less) to provide maximum wear resistance Corrosion protection in oxidizing environments	Good color match with chromium plating Very difficult to use
Cobalt	2043	Salvage Repair of stellite	Good wear resistance at elevated temperatures
Copper	2050	Salvage Pit filling deep pits, particularly where some hardness is required Underlay for nickel (to seal surface) where excellent non-sacrificial corrosion protection is desired Carburizing stop-off	Most reliable and easiest to use copper solution Best pit filler of copper solutions Corrosive to most base materials and requires careful masking
Copper	2051	Carburizing stop-off	Does not corrode most base materials Plates in cover
Copper	2052	Salvage Carburizing stop-off	Does not corrode most base materials Less likely to plate in tool cover than Copper Code 2051
Copper	2055	Salvage Carburizing stop-off	Fastest plating copper solution on small areas where current density limits plating current rather than maximum aperage output of power pack Very corrosive and attacks common base materials Requires careful masking
Copper	2056	Salvage Carburizing stop-off	Fastest plating, non-corrosive (alkaline) plating solution Develops less graphite anode erosion thanthe other copper solutions Has tendency to plate in cover when first used
Iron	2062	Salvage where iron is required for magnetic or other properties	Harder and less ductile than tank electroplated iron
Nickel	2080	Salvage Improve brazing on many base materials Permit soldering of aluminum Preplate on many base materials	Best plating acid nickel solution when plated at room temperature
Nickel	2085	Salvage	Hard, wear resistant, but brittle coating Among nickel solutions, fastest, most inexpensive and easiest to use Does not provide corrosion protection for iron and steel
Nickel	2086 2088	Salvage Provide non-sacrificial corrosion protection Improve brazing characteristics, particularly on hard-to-plate materials, such as tungsten carbide	Provides excellent corrosion protection Moderately low stress nickel
Tin	2090 2092 2093	Prevent fretting corrosion on low load areas operating at ambient temperatures Improve solderability Lower contat resistance on aluminum buss bars, PC boards, RFI gaskets Overlay on copper for carburizing or nitriding stop-off Filling pits or scratches	Tin 2093 is the fastest of the tin solutions Tin 2093 is corrosive to most base materials and requires careful masking Tin 2090 tends to form non-conductive precipitates on the cover,near the anode
Zinc	2100	Same as tank electroplates, sacrificial corrosion protection of iron, steel, and cast iron	Does not attack zinc or reactive metals
Zinc	2103	Same as tank electroplates, sacrificial corrosion protection of iron, steel, and cast iron Salvage of aluminum and zinc-alloy parts Pit and dent filling light load areas	Slight attack of zinc and zinc-based alloys Provides superior adhesion
Gold	3020	Same as tank electroplates	Maximum gold per unit cost
Gold	3021	Same as tank electroplates	Neutral pH
Gold	3022	Same as tank electroplates	Used for PC board manufacturing because its low pH results in low attack of photo resists
Gold	3023	Low thickness applications 1.25µm (0.000050 in.) or less where low initial cost and minimum drag-off costs are desired Preplate for silver	Low drag-off cost Very slow plating
Gold	3024	Same as tank electroplates	Provides good combination of low cost per unit volume and good plating characteristics
Indium	3030	Prevent fretting corrosion Serve as a metal gasket Diffusion alloy with silver or lead for high load bearings	Very soft deposit
Palladium	3040	Improve soldering and brazing Preplate for silver
Platinum	3052	Corrosion protection in severe environments, particularly electrochemical
Rhodium	3072	Same as tank electroplates Plating commutators or slip rings	Preferred rhodium solution for higher thickness deposits
Rhodium	3074	Same as tank electroplates Plating commutators or slip rings	Lower initial cost and metal content solution
Silver	3082	Same as tank electroplates Pit and steam cut filling high operating temperatures parts such as turbine cases Sealing metal to metal joints	High cyanide content solution Cyanide fumes emitted Softer than Silver Code 3083 and Silver Code 3084 deposits Fast plating solution Gives best electrical contact on static contacts
Silver	3083	Same as Silver Code 3082 solution	High cyanide content solution Cyanide fumes emitted Harder than Silver Code 3082 deposit Fast plating solution Gives good electrical contact on sliding contacts where wear is a factor
Silver (Non-Cyanide)	3084	Same as Silver Code 3082 solution	Does not contain cyanide Plates directly on copper and copper alloys Gives good electrical contact on sliding contacts where wear is a factor
Tin-Lead-Nickel	4005	Prevent fretting corrosion Cathodic corrosion protection of iron, steel and cast iron Lower contact resistance on RFI gaskets	Bright, shiny deposit
Cobalt-Tungsten	4007	Provide excellent wear resistance at high temperature
Nickel-Tungsten	4008	Provide excellent wear resistance
Zinc-Nickel No Bake	4018	Alternative to cadmium Sacrificial corrosion protection	Extremely low hydrogen embrittlement tendency as plated Does not require bake for embrittlement relief, but microporous structure permits baking to be performed Nickel 8-12%, balance zinc
Babbitt	4011	Suitable for Navy Grade 2 applications Provide bearing coating Repair of worn, mismachined or damaged bearings	Tin, Antimony, Copper alloy deposit
AeroNikl®250		Salvage where aerospace quality deposit is required Corrosion protection Improve ability to braze or solder difficult materials	Requires use of AeroNikl® Flow Systems Can not be plated using dip for solution technique Softest and most ductile nickel deposit Provides highest level of corrosion protection among nickel deposits
AeroNikl®400		Salvage where a harder, aerospace quality deposit is required	Requires use of AeroNikl® Flow Systems Can not be plated using dip for solution technique Moderately hard and ductile nickel deposit
AeroNikl®575	7282	Salvage where a harder, aerospace quality deposit is required	Requires use of AeroNikl® Flow Systems Can not be plated using dip for solution technique Has excellent combination of very high hardness, coherence, adherence, and density of deposit

Back to Technical Documents | Back to Homepage