Can stainless steel be plated?

Stainless steel can be electroplated, but special processes are required for its surface characteristics. Because stainless steel contains chromium and will form a passivation film (chromium oxide layer), ordinary electroplating is difficult to directly attach the coating, which needs to be achieved by pretreatment or special technology. The following are the specific methods and application scenarios:

First, the core process and innovative technology of stainless steel plating

Pretreatment breaks down the passivated membrane

Pickling activation: Use sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid to remove the oxide film, combined with electrolytic pickling (such as DW-100 accelerator) to enhance the activation effect.

Touch nickel plating: Plating a thin nickel layer (containing a high chlorine solution) immediately after the passivation film is removed to prevent oxidation film regeneration and enhance subsequent coating bonding.

Direct plating technique

Acid copper plating: The use of copper sulfate solution (180-220g/L) + copper plating stabilizer (DW-035D), 15-30℃ rapid copper plating (0.25-5 minutes), low cost and strong adhesion, suitable for SUS304, SUS430 and other stainless steel.

Cyanide-free alkaline bright copper: Without cyanide can achieve more than 10μm coating, high brightness and environmental protection, can replace the traditional process, support iron, copper, stainless steel and other substrates.

Electroless plating and vacuum plating technology

Electroless nickel plating: By self-catalytic deposition of nickel-phosphorus alloy layer, improve corrosion resistance and brightness, suitable for food machinery, chemical equipment and other scenarios.

PVD vacuum coating: The use of physical vapor deposition to produce titanium, zirconium and other metal nitride film, can be plated with sapphire blue, black, rose gold and other colors, both wear-resistant and decorative.

Second, the application advantages of electroplated stainless steel

Function enhancement

Corrosion resistance: coating (such as nickel, copper, PVD film) can enhance acid and alkali resistance, salt spray ability, suitable for Marine engineering, medical equipment and other fields.

Wear resistance: PVD coating hardness can reach more than HV2000, reduce scratches, extend the life of tools and kitchenware.

Aesthetics and customization

Diverse colors: Support black plated titanium, champagne gold, bronze, etc., to meet the architectural decoration (such as elevator panels), luxury packaging and other high-end needs.

Complex texture: combined with etching and embossing process, it can produce personalized surface effects such as antique pattern and pearlescent pattern.

Third, other coating related technical supplement

Nano coating: Improve surface hardness and stain resistance through nano nickel or nano oxide film technology, suitable for precision instruments.

Composite process: such as sandblasting and then electroplating, it can form a contrast effect of matte texture and color, which is used for home and dining utensils.