Gold Plating to elevate performance.

Gold Plating is an essential stage in the manufacturing of parts and components that carry specified demands for reliability, durability, conductivity, performance, and longevity, That’s because Gold plating provides important performance enhancements parts fabricated of various metals, allowing consistency tt meets critical function benchmarks. Among other advantages Gold Plating greatly enhances electric-current conductivity while minimizing energy loss. Gold also has a natural resistance to oxidation and corrosion, prolonging the life of plated parts to ensure they remain functional in even the most challenging environments and conditions.As a result, Gold Plating is often the finish of choice for parts used in aerospace, military, and electronics.

However, for gold plating to deliver these advantages, it must meet strict performance benchmarks defined by Military Specifications or “MIL-Specs:” These pecs include AMS 2422; ASTM B488; and MIL-DTL-45204. Meeting these specifications ensures mandated compliance, and also instills confidence in component end-users that rely on a parts mission-critical performance.

MIL Specifications Overview

AMS 2422
The Aerospace Material Specification (AMS) 2422 is a standard used primarily in the aerospace industry. It governs the electroplating of gold on base metals, ensuring components can withstand the rigors of flight. The gold must have a minimum purity of 99.7%, and the coating thickness must be between 0.0001 inches (2.5 microns) and 0.0005 inches (12.5 microns). These specifications ensure that the plated parts have the necessary properties for reliable performance in extreme conditions, including temperature fluctuations and exposure to a wide range of chemicals.

ASTM B488
The ASTM B488 standard is utilized across various industries, including electronics and telecommunications, where gold plating is essential for improving electrical conductivity. This standard requires gold to have a minimum purity of 99.99% and mandates thickness levels of at least 0.0001 inches (2.5 microns) for specific applications, while thicker coatings may be required for others, such as connectors and contacts. The stringent purity and thickness requirements ensure excellent performance in high-reliability applications, significantly reducing the risk of failures.

MIL-DTL-45204
MIL-DTL-45204 is another critical specification, primarily used in military applications. This standard emphasizes the importance of gold plating on electrical and electronic components, where mechanical reliability is also crucial. The minimum purity level is set at 99.7%, with thickness requirements typically ranging from 0.0001 inches to 0.0005 inches. Components that meet these specifications are better equipped to resist corrosion, which is vital for the longevity and functionality of military hardware exposed to harsh environments.

Summit Plating is a trusted MIL Spec meeting Electroplater

Summit Plating is an established leader in gold plating to meet  the stringent requirements outlined in AMS 2422, ASTM B488, and MIL-DTL-45204. Our experienced team is dedicated to meeting without exception these important standards on every part we deliver.

However, what sets Summit apart is not just our commitment to quality, but also our commitment to our client’s plating experience. While the gold electroplating process can be complex, we don’t believe the vendor/client relationship should be. So we continually strive throughout a plating program to make the entire journey as accurate, efficient, and transparent as possible.

In addition to aerospace, military, and electronics, Summit Plating also provides electroplating for medical devices, telecommunications, oil and gas parts, and even musical wire. We believe our versatility and experience in delivering quality results for diverse applications makes us more valuable and proficient to each sector we serve.

So whether the need be for plated parts used in aerospace, military, electronics, or beyond—Summit Plating is committed to reinforcing our reputation as an effective, efficient, trusted partner in Specification meeting Industrial Gold Plating.

Decorative Metal Platers – Overview

This group of Electroplaters concentrate on following coating specifications intended to primarily elevate the aesthetic appearance of a product. This is especially true in the jewelry industry, where plating is used to enhance mid-priced items with a coating of silver, gold, platinum, or other attractive metal. The objective is to simply make the end product appear more appealing and valuable. And in fact, there are even DIY (Do It Yourself) plating kits available to consumers for achieving this cosmetic result.

Industrial Electroplaters – Overview

Industrial Electroplaters focus on meeting very exact specifications designed to deliver functional performance advantages that go well beyond aesthetics. These specifications are often carefully defined and strictly regulated by industries like aerospace and medical that require reliable, consistent plated part performance.

Industrial Electroplaters achieve these controlled plating results by carefully administering a process called “electrodeposition.” With electrodeposition, the substrate material to be plated is immersed into an electrolyte solution that is saturated with select chemical additives. Among these additives are ions of the specified plating metal. Direct electric current is then strategically introduced, creating a bond at a molecular level that securely adheres plating metal ions to the component as and where required. The result is a deliberate “electroplated finish” that is stronger and more permanent than simpler surface-coating applications could offer.

Functional characteristics enhanced with Industrial Electroplating include:

• Electrical Conductivity
Industrial electroplating can enable, enhance, limit, and strictly control the flow of electrical current.

• Corrosion and Oxidation Resistance
Plating on industrial parts Provides a barrier more impervious to corrosion and oxidation than the substrate material it covers.

• Chemical and Contaminant Protection
A n important benefit of industrial plating is the shielding of the substrate material from harmful or property-changing chemical reactions.

• Abrasion and Friction Reduction
Protective plating serves as a coat of armor that can extend part life by increasing lubricity between moving parts.

• Temperature Tolerance
Electroplating on industrial parts can reduce or even eliminate the negative effects extreme hot and cold have on desired performance characteristics.

• Strengthened Adhesion
Industrial Electroplating can Improve the bond between the plating layer and substrate being plated,. It can also strengthen the bond between other materials and the plated surface.

• Strengthened/Altered Tensile Properties
Plating for industry can create a more rigid, supportive, or more pliable part to better meet specified performance needs.

• Superior Surface Finish
Industrial Plating requires exacting control of chemistry and process, resulting in a wide variety aesthetic finish and texture options. This plating control also yields a superior finish free of performing-retarding surface anomalies.

• Quantity Economies
Industrial plating can provide cost economies through efficient plating procedures, and through raw materials costs. This is especially true for large output programs where substrate materials are purchased in large volumes to meet anticipated supply demands while reducing material cost through economies of scale.

• Extended Lifespan / Enhanced value
Collectively, Industrial electroplating improves the functional longevity and therefore value of plated components and parts parts.

Conclusion:

Industrial electroplating focuses on meeting exacting specifications for coverage area, plating properties, consistency, and efficiency. For large-quantity plating programs where physical properties and part performance cannot be compromised, Industrial Electroplating is the best choice — and the best Industrial Electroplater is Summit Plating!