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plating and anodizing: ZINC PLATING
Achieving the Perfect
ZINC PLATE
BY PAUL FREDERICKS AND JEFF LOGAN
ZINC PLATING IS A WIDELY used coating for the sacrificial bath to the surface of the part. When these ions contact
corrosion protection of steel. It is used throughout the the steel surface and the negative charge, they are reduced
range of industry, especially on stampings, fasteners and to metallic zinc and electrochemically bonded to the steel
automotive parts. Zinc also provides an excellent base surface creating the zinc deposit. Chemicals are added to
for painting and other coatings. The final product is the bath to modify the deposit to make it smooth, uniform
aesthetically pleasing, typically very bright, and quite and bright. Small parts that are not fragile can be barrel
uniform in thickness. processed which saves cost while larger parts and parts
Zinc is applied through the process of electroplating. with fragile critical features are rack plated to avoid dam-
The steel parts get a cathodic, or negative charge applied aging the parts in the barrel.
to them which attracts zinc metal ions from the plating Zinc is almost always provided with a supplementary
www.cfcm.ca Canadian Finishing & Coatings ManuFaCturing 27
