05 Nov Enhancing Durability: The Top 5 Plating Metals for Defense Applications
In the defense industry, choosing durable, high-quality materials is crucial for ensuring the safety and function of the equipment and vehicles you build. Their metal components must be able to withstand harsh environments, extreme temperatures, and corrosive elements.
Finishes like cadmium plating and hard chrome plating go a long way toward enhancing the durability, corrosion resistance, and functionality of metal parts. In this article, we’ll explore the top metal plating solutions that ensure longevity and reliability in defense applications.
The Five Best Metal Finishes for the Defense Industry
1: Cadmium Plating
Due to its outstanding corrosion resistance, cadmium electroplating is widely used in the defense industry. It is particularly effective in harsh environments where equipment is frequently exposed to moisture and saltwater. Cadmium plating not only protects against corrosion, it also provides excellent lubricity, low electrical resistance, and low friction. These properties ensure that plated components move smoothly and have good electrical conductivity.
Common defense applications for cadmium plating include aircraft and naval hardware, fasteners and connectors, as well as vehicle components.
2: Hard Chrome Plating
Renowned for its exceptional hardness and resistance to heat and wear, hard chrome electroplating is a go-to solution for many defense applications. It extends the lifespan of components that must endure high levels of stress and friction and it resists deterioration, even in the most demanding environments.
Hard chrome plating is commonly used on aircraft landing gear, hydraulic systems, and artillery components.
3: Electroless Nickel Plating
Since it provides uniform coverage, even on complex and irregular surfaces, electroless nickel plating is another useful finish for defense applications. Nickel also offers high resistance to corrosion and wear, so this metal plating technique ensures that every part of a component receives equal protection.
Electroless nickel plating is commonly used in manufacturing missile components, firearm parts, and defense vehicles.
4: Composite Diamond Coating®
Because Composite Diamond Coating® can withstand the most intense operational conditions, it is one of the top plating solutions in the defense industry. It is an electroless process that uses nickel mixed with ultra-fine diamond particles, resulting in an extremely durable coating that provides maximum wear resistance. This coating extends the lifespan of metal components by protecting them from high impact, pressure, and abrasion.
Common defense applications include missile guidance systems, propulsion systems, and firearms.
5: Copper Plating
Copper electroplating makes an excellent base layer for other coatings, and it improves solderability. It is often used as an undercoating to improve the adhesion of other plating materials. Copper plating can also serve as a barrier layer to protect components from environmental exposure. Because it enhances thermal and electrical conductivity, this makes it an ideal finish for components that need to dissipate heat or conduct electricity more efficiently.
Copper plating is a popular choice for electronic components and communications systems in the defense industry.
High-Quality Metal Plating in Phoenix, Arizona
If you need metal plating for defense components, you want only the best materials and the most professional finishing specialists. CRC Surface Technologies offers over 33 different metal finishing solutions, including cadmium plating, hard chrome plating, electroless nickel plating, Composite Diamond Coating®, and copper plating. Our team can help you determine the best finishing processes to enhance the durability and lifespan of your components. Call us at 602-253-4175 today to learn more about our copper electroplating services, or email rfq@chemresearchco.com to request a quote.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (11/5/2024). Photo by Grant Beirute on Unsplash