The Aerospace industry is a highly innovative and rapidly growing industry. As aerospace engineers strive to find lighter and stronger options for their materials, they will often turn to metal finishing companies to provide them with a variety of options to use.
For Electroless Nickel plating the compliance spec is AMS-C-26074. The spec defines four different classes (1-4) as well as three different grades (A, B, and C). These classes and grades are used to easily convey to our team what heat treatments and thickness are requested of us from our customers.
Benefits of AMS-C-26074 Electroless Nickel Plating
An even surface
Flexibility in thickness
Little deposit build-up
Allows for different finishes.
Can be used on non-conductive surfaces.
Technical Notes
With AMS-C-26074, there are a few key classifications an informed customer should understand
Grades– Thickness of Deposit
Grade A (1000 microinches) – used for aluminum based alloys
Grade B (500 microinches) – used for copper, nickel, cobalt, titanium, and beryllium
Grade C (1500 microinches) – used for iron-based alloys
Class Number– Processing Guidelines
Class 1 – As plated, no subsequent heat treatment. A bake for hydrogen embrittlement relief is not considered a heat treatment.
Class 2 – heat treated to obtain required hardness: May be used on all metals not affected by heating to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and above.
Class 3 – Aluminum alloys nonheat-treatable, and beryllium alloys processed to improved adhesion of the nickel deposit.
Class 4 – Aluminum alloys, heat-treatable, processed to improve adhesion of the nickel deposit.
Acceptable Base Metals
Iron, copper, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, beryllium, titanium, and their respective alloys.
Strikes and Underplating
Silver or copper plus silver may not be used as an underplate. When gold is applied to a copper rich surface such as brass, copper, bronze, or beryllium copper, an anti-diffusion underplate such as nickel shall be applied.
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Electroplating is a process by which one metal is deposited onto a base metal (substrate). These deposited metals offer a variety of benefits including thermal and electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance and more. AOTCO electroplates a wide variety of both standard and exotic metals.
Sometimes called a “conversion coating” Anodizing is an electrolytic process in which an oxide (anodic) layer is chemically built on the surface of the substrate material, providing anti-corrosion and other benefits. AOTCO offers, Type I, Type 2, Type 3 and Titanium anodizing services.
Passivation is a term for a variety if processes that make a metal (most commonly stainless steel) or other substance unreactive, or passive, by altering the surface layer or coating the surface with a thin inert layer. AOTCO performs both citric and black oxide passivation techniques to a range of specifications.
AOTCO plates on a wide variety of Common, Exotic and Non-Metallic substrates, bringing exceptional expertise to magnesium, titanium, beryllium, BeCu, TeCu, tungsten and more. In some cases we pass as high as 450 degrees celsius, allowing for high temperature soldering, brazing, or post machining operations after plating.
Pre-Process: In addition to offering both mechanical & chemical cleaning options, AOTCO specializes in creating solutions for complicated, difficult and tight-tolerance masking challenges. Post-Process: For clients with specialized needs AOTCO offers laser marking and engraving options, including color change caused by chemical or molecular changes, charring, foaming, melting, ablation, and more.
Part of our cornerstone goal of building long-term, collaborative & solution-oriented partnerships, AOTCO will devote reserved physical and human resource capacity for our clients with long-term finishing and deadline requirements. For these partnerships our commitment is that AOTCO manages the process, while YOU control the results.
