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Artistic Plating to once again Exhibit at 2012 Medical Design and Manufacturing Show in Anaheim, CA – Artistic Plating will be exhibiting in booth 3083 at the upcoming 2012 MD&M West show in Anaheim, CA February 14th-16th 2012…. Tacti-Black Black Electroless Nickel High Purity Silver Heavy Build Copper
CERTIFICATIONS
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Lead Plating (Electroplating) Services per MIL-L-13808
Artistic Plating’s lead plating services are employed for highly corrosive applications due to the outstanding performance of lead in corrosive environments especially when dealing with strong mineral acids such as sulfuric acid. Lead also has outstanding solderability making it ideal for use in critical electrical and electronic applications. Artistic Plating also specializes in demanding plate-to-gauge lead plating services for bearing applications in the defense, aerospace and railway industries (reference Bearing Plating Services in our Finishing Solutions section). Our dedicated Quality Control department provides preplate, in-process and post-plate dimensional and RMS inspections of inner and outer bearing surfaces to ensure dimensional and surface finish requirements are met. Heavy build lead plating services have been provided up to 0.020 inches in thickness per side. Lead Plating Services – Lead PropertiesLead is an extremely soft, malleable metal that has the highest atomic number of all the stable elements. When freshly abraded lead can have a bluish-white color but it readily oxidizes to a dull gray color when exposed to oxygen-bearing environments. It is this thin oxide layer that protects the basis lead from further oxidation and lends it’s extreme resistance to hydrochloric and sulfuric acids.
Lead plating is a functional finish that provides a dull gray and slightly mottled deposit. Due to the matte nature of the deposits they are susceptible to rinsing stains and discoloration from handling. If a bright and uniform appearance is desired, the lead surface can be overplated with a thin coating of bright tin or the deposit can be subsequently reflowed to a bright appearance. Lead plating services on bearings are commonly used for break-in purposes on highly loaded bearing applications generally in the range of 3,000 to 8,000 PSI where the surface speed is relatively low. Heavier coatings are used in loadings up to 3,000 PSI where the thicker coating allows for imbedability of contaminants especially on grooved bearing designs. Lead Plating Services – Lead Specifications The most common lead plating service certified by Artistic Plating is MIL-L-13808. Artistic Plating also can certify lead plating services to most company-specific lead plating specifications. A summary of lead plating services per MIL-L-13808 is provided below: Lead Plating Services to MIL-L-13808 Type I: Without a preliminary copper coating Class 1 – 25 um (0.001 inch) minimum lead plating thickness Additional information noted regarding lead plating types: 6.1.1 Type I – No Copper Underplate: Lead may be plated directly on copper, brass or copper rich alloy surfaces. For steel surfaces, the type II process with a preliminary copper coating should be used to obtain adequate adhesion and corrosion resistance. 6.1.2. Type II – Copper Underplate: Recommended for all applications except where the presence of the initial thin copper coating is detrimental to the use. The thin undercoat of copper increases the salt spray resistance of lead coatings varying in thickness from 6 to 25 um (0.00025 to 0.001 inch) by as much as a factor of two as well as improving adhesion of the lead to the steel. Lead Plating Services – Why Artistic Plating?
Extensive in House Analytical and Quality Lab Services: SPC is employed in all wet-lab work surrounding our lead plating services to ensure baths are analyzed and adjusted at optimum frequencies to ensure operation between critical upper and lower control points. Our quality lab employs the latest in x-ray, coulometric and spectrophotometer technologies to inspect your parts and will work to your requirements to provide testing as needed. Our quality lab can certify salt spray performance to ASTM B117, adhesion to ASTM B571 and solderability to ASTM B678. Mounted cross sections of parts are also available. |
Artistic Plating Company provides industry-leading precision lead plating services to MIL-L-13808. Our expertise in providing technical barrel, rack and vibratory lead plating services is currently employed in numerous industries including the defense, railway, aerospace, bearing, fire-protection and battery sectors.
Historic use of lead dates back to over eight thousand years ago due to its widespread availability and ease of extraction from its ore found in the earth’s surface. The Romans used lead extensively in plumbing due to its formability and corrosion resistance. Its elemental symbol, Pb, comes from its Latin name plumbum. Its early use in waterways is where the English word “plumber” finds its origin. 