Zinc Plating

It’s no secret steel  rusts when exposed to water. Likewise, music wire and  hard drawn MB springs are not corrosion resistant.  If exposed to certain elements, the properties of the steel break down. This can lead to spring failure.  To make steel springs more resistant, we can add a zinc finish. Zinc plating creates a protective barrier without modifying the spring’s properties. The con is plating can be expensive and take extra time. The W.B. Jones sales reps. can help decide if zinc plating is the right option for you.

Zinc plating makes steel spring more corrosion resistant. It also provides a pretty chrome like appearance. Think of the shiny color of a paper clip. It can be applied after the springs are manufactured or can be pre-coated on the wire. The process is relatively simple. The springs are pickled (cleaned), dipped into a zinc solution, and finally, baked to relieve hydrogen embrittlement. Hydrogen embitterment occurs when tiny hydrogen bubbles form in the plating. If the bubbles aren’t baked out, the hydrogen can soak into the steel. This weakens the spring. Once complete, the springs will be shiny and more corrosion resistant than before. See below for an example.

 

There are a few down sides to plating. It is flat out expensive and can take up to 2 weeks.

Plating is a dangerous, messy, and expensive job.  So here at W.B. Jones, we leave it to professionals. Over the years, we have developed a great relationship with our platers. They work with us to keep pricing and lead times down.  Recently, we started stocking a line of pre-plated wire. This helps to reduce lead times for those rushed projects. Our sales team can work with you to determine if plating is necessary. We can also discuss other options. Please give us a call today!