Surface Finishing Tutorial

#287 The degree of difficulty of plating of copper and copper alloys

Category : Electroplating

April14, 2017

Type		Characteristics	Typical applications	Degree of difficulty
Dilute copper based alloys		Including little alloy elements	High-performance springs, electrical machinery and appliances, and engine parts Chemical industrial equipment and electrical machinery	◎
	Oxygen-free copper	Excellent in electric conductivity, thermal conductivity, malleability, and drawing workability, and satisfactory in weldability, corrosion resistance, and weather resistance.
	Tough pitch copper
	Phosphorous-deoxidized copper	Satisfactory in malleability, drawing workability, weldability, corrosion resistance, weather resistance, and heat conduction.	Water heaters, gaskets, and building materials	◎
	Beryllium copper	Satisfactory in corrosion resistance, offering reinforced fatigue resistance by precipitation hardening treatment.	High-performance springs, switches, and connectors	○
Copper-zinc alloys		Glossy and satisfactory in malleability, drawing workability, and corrosion resistance.	Building materials, personal ornaments, cosmetic cases, and waveguides	◎
	Red brass
	Brass		Wiring accessories, nameplates, and electro-mechanical parts	◎
Copper-zinc-lead alloys		Containing some amount of lead and zinc and excellent in machinability.	Clocks, gears, papermaking screens, bolts, nuts, valves, and spins	○
	Free-cutting brass
Copper-zinc-tin alloys		Satisfactory in corrosion resistance, excellent in corrosion resistance in sea water in particular.	Heat exchanger tube plates and sea water intake facilities in vessels	○
	Naval brass
Copper-tin-phosphor alloys		Satisfactory in malleability, fatigue resistance, and corrosion resistance, and suitable as materials for high-performance springs.	Switches, connectors, relays, and cams	○
	Phosphor bronze
Copper-nickel-zinc alloys		Glossy, and satisfactory in malleability, fatigue resistance, and corrosion resistance. Suitable as materials for high-performance springs.	Switches, relays, connectors, medical equipment, musical instruments, and eyeglass frames	○
	Nickel silver
Others				○
	Aluminum bronze, brass for musical instruments, high strength brass, IClead framesCu-Sn, Cu-Fe,etc.

*	◎:Satisfactory adhesion is attained.○:Adequate consideration must be given to pretreatment.

Copper and copper alloys are available in the form of wrought products and castings. For wrought products, the materials in the form of sheet, wire, rod, or pipe will be punched, drawn, bent, or machined to the intended shape for finished products and then subject to plating. A critical point in the plating is making the materials and the item's processing history clear.

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