Zinc and Zinc Alloy Plating

The course consists of 10 lessons given over a 2 day period. An optional examination will be offered on the 3th day. Students successfully completing the exam will be given credit towards the AESF Master Surface Finishers (MSF) certification. While it is not necessary to take any AESF course to be eligible to sit for the respective exam that could lead you to becoming a Master Surface Finisher (MSF), this course covers one of the optional subject areas for qualifying to obtain MSF certification.

Intended Audience

This training program is designed to be beneficial for operators and supervisors of job shops and captive shops performing zinc and or zinc alloy plating operations on a variety of substrates. The course can also benefit sales personnel at industry suppliers.

Trainees should have at minimum a high school diploma. The training materials and instruction are in English. In many cases, metric and/or US/English units of measurement are utilized. Students are taught how to convert between the two systems of measurement when required.

Goal

The goal of this course is to provide the student with a broad range of information related to the metallurgy and corrosion behavior of zinc coatings. Students will also know the differences between the various zinc plating processes and between the various zinc alloy plating process, including what can go wrong and how to solve plating problems.

Objective

The objective of the lessons in this course is to prepare the student for a certification examination that will provide said student with an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in technologies that may be employed in the precious metals plating industry, whereby quality of finished goods may be improved and the costs of operation are reduced or eliminated, making said student more valuable to their employer. At the conclusion of this course, attendees should:

Have knowledge of the basic behavior of zinc and zinc alloys in retarding the on-set of corrosion of base metals such as steel
Have knowledge of the metallurgy and basic chemical principles involved in zinc and zinc alloy plating
Understand how barrel plating is different from rack plating
Know the various types of zinc plating solutions and be able to distinguish features provided by them
Know the various type of and zinc alloy plating processes such as zinc-nickel, zinc-cobalt, tin-zinc, and tin-zinc-copper, their chemical make-up and operational conditions
Be prepared to take the examination which is part of the AESF Foundation MSF certification program.

1. Electroplating Basics for Zinc Platers: This lesson will provide basic chemical, electrochemical and metallurgical background that will allow the student to make basic calculations of current density and plating times for both rack and barrel plating of zinc and zinc alloys.
2. Introduction-Historical Development & Applications of Zinc Coatings: This lesson will provide an introduction into zinc coatings from a historical perspective that is then followed by a discussion of economics, corrosion mechanisms, and methods used to apply zinc coatings (mechanical plating, electroplating, hot dip galvanizing and flake diffusion processes).
3. Preparing Parts for Zinc Plating & Post Plate Baking: This lesson will provide guidance on preparing substrates for zinc plating. Covered are ultrasonic cleaning, vapor degreasing, soak cleaning, electrocleaning, descaling and acid pickling.
4. Cyanide Zinc Plating: This lesson provides chemical make-up and operational conditions for the cyanide based zinc plating solutions in use in the metal finishing industry. Special focus is given to function of and control over individual ingredients in each process. Common contaminants and possible methods of removal/treatment are discussed.
5. Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Plating: This lesson provides chemical make-up and operational conditions for the alkaline non-cyanide based zinc plating solutions in use in the metal finishing industry. Special focus is given to function of and control over individual ingredients in each process. Common contaminants and possible methods of removal/treatment are discussed.
6. Chloride Zinc Plating: This lesson provides chemical make-up and operational conditions for the acid chloride based zinc plating solutions in use in the metal finishing industry. Special focus is given to function of and control over individual ingredients in each process. Common contaminants and possible methods of removal/treatment are discussed.
7. Zinc Alloy Plating-Part-1 Zinc-Nickel: This lesson provides chemical make-up and operational conditions for the alkaline and acidic zinc nickel plating solutions in use in the metal finishing industry. Special focus is given to function of and control over individual ingredients in each process. Common contaminants and possible methods of removal/treatment are discussed.
8. Zinc Alloy Plating-Part-2 Zinc-Cobalt: This lesson provides chemical make-up and operational conditions for the alkaline and acidic zinc cobalt plating solutions in use in the metal finishing industry. Special focus is given to function of and control over individual ingredients in each process. Common contaminants and possible methods of removal/treatment are discussed.
9. Zinc Alloy Plating-Part-3 Zinc-Iron: This lesson provides chemical make-up and operational conditions for the alkaline and acidic zinc iron plating solutions in use in the metal finishing industry. Special focus is given to function of and control over individual ingredients in each process. Common contaminants and possible methods of removal/treatment are discussed.
10. Chromate Conversion Coatings over Zinc and Zinc Alloys: This lesson provides chemical make-up and operational conditions for hexavalent and trivalent chemical conversion coatings for zinc and zinc alloy deposits. A major focus is good operating practices that yield the highest level of corrosion resistance.

Click Here to Download
The 2013 Course Catalog
Updated 4/17/13

Click Here to Download the Calendar and Registration Form

Board of Trustees

Zinc and Zinc Alloy Plating

Intended Audience

Goal

Objective

Click Here to Download The 2013 Course Catalog Updated 4/17/13

Click Here to Download the Calendar and Registration Form

Board of Trustees

Zinc and Zinc Alloy Plating

Intended Audience

Goal

Objective

Click Here to Download
The 2013 Course Catalog
Updated 4/17/13