Introduction of Zipper Plating
January 02, 2020
Electroplating is a deposition process in which another substance is coated (ie, "plated") with a metal using an electrical current.
In short, electroplating involves immersing an object to be plated in a solution containing a desired metal coating and passing an electric current through it. This solution acts as the anode and the subject acts as the cathode. When a current is passed through the solution, electrolysis occurs and the dissolved metal is oxidized to ions. These ions then attach themselves to the cathode, forming a thin coating on the object.
Plating in the zipper industry
Zippers are usually coated with a thin layer of metal, such as nickel or chromium, to make them more resistant to corrosion and normal wear.
The shape of the zipper teeth is complex, so the plating process is usually carried out as a conveyor belt.
Pullers and sliders are usually electroplated using barrel and rack plating methods. Both methods can accommodate a large number of zipper parts simultaneously. However, the coating produced by barrel plating is softer and the gloss produced by rack plating is brighter.
Although barrel plating and rack plating are the two most commonly used methods in large-scale electroplating, these two methods are quite different in scope and types of objects that can be accommodated.
Uses and benefits of barrel plating
As long as objects can be installed in six-sided or eight-sided galvanized barrels, this method can be used for processing.
Barrel plating has many benefits (it is cheap, can process most industrial metals, and does a better job of sanding and descaling), but it can only be used for objects that can withstand the rough impact of rolling down. During this process, softer, delicate objects may scratch or bend.
Uses and advantages of rack plating
Although rack plating is more expensive than barrel plating, the process can be better controlled. The result is a more uniform and precise plated surface. Since the object is placed on a shelf and does not fall like the barrel plating method, it can prevent bending and scratching.
