How to Electroplate on the Surface of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy Profiles?

1. Electroplating of aluminum and aluminum alloy profiles

After the surface of aluminum and aluminum alloy profiles is electroplated with various metals, the physical or chemical properties of the surface can be significantly improved. When aluminum and aluminum alloy profiles are used as conductors, electroplating silver on the surface can improve the electrical conductivity of the surface or electrical contact parts; To make aluminum easy to weld, copper, nickel or tin are electroplated on its surface; to improve its wear resistance, thick galvanized steel is electroplated on its surface. In terms of decoration, it is actually mostly electroplating.

Electroplating on the surface of aluminum and aluminum alloy profiles has been tried for a long time and has been used in actual production. However, there are oxides between the aluminum and aluminum alloy profiles and the coating. The thermal expansion coefficients of the aluminum and aluminum alloy profiles and the metal coating are different. The coating has pinholes and residual electroplating solution and other factors, resulting in poor coating adhesion. It peels off immediately after plating. In the field of surface treatment, the electroplating process of aluminum and aluminum alloy profiles is still in the exploratory stage. There has been no substantial breakthrough for a long time, and a complete and mature process has not been formed so far.

The poor adhesion of the coating layer is still the bottleneck of the industry in terms of the plating quality and product qualification rate of aluminum and industrial aluminum profiles.

2. The process flow of conventional aluminum and aluminum alloy profile electroplating

The electroplating process of aluminum and aluminum alloy profiles consists of three parts: pre-plating, electroplating, and post-plating. Pre-plating treatment is the most critical process related to the quality of electroplating products. Its main purpose is to remove grease on the surface of aluminum and aluminum alloy profiles, and naturally form oxide films and other contaminants.

The conventional general process is: degreasing-water washing-corrosion reduction-water washing-pickling-water washing-activation-water washing-one zinc dipping-water washing-zinc removal-water washing-second zinc dipping-water washing-neutral nickel plating-water washing- Subsequent plating.

There are also wave anodized films that replace the zinc immersion process and then carry out subsequent electroplating.

Improved general-purpose aluminum and aluminum alloy profiles electroplating pretreatment process: degreasing and alkaline etching two-in-one-water washing-pickling-water washing-deashing-water washing-alkaline activation-zinc immersion-water washing-neutral nickel plating-water washing-subsequent electroplating.

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