Anyone consumer or a beginner looking at electroplating can become
confused quite quickly by some aspects. While they may quickly get their
head around such concepts as electroplating, electroless plating,
deposition, basis and anode, when it comes to classification standards
or specifications used to classify thickness, it is easy to become
bewildered. Specifications are a very important part of the
determination of such things as price, durability and quality of the
final finishes. It therefore, becomes imperative to understand the
different types of specifications including Mil spec plating.
What Are Military Specifications?
When it comes to the field of specifications, some groups have
requirements for certain services. Rigorous performance standards are
set together with specific classifications. The classifications are put
into place so that the product requested will measure up to the demands
required of it. While there are several groups who have created
specifications that are recognized by the metal industry across North
America, two are commonly cited. These are the American Society for
Testing and Materials (ASTM) and military specifications or “Mil specs”.
The former has provided their specifications clearly in their document
“Electroplated Coatings of Gold for Engineering Uses.” The Mil specs are
found in a variety of readily available documents online.
What Is Mil Spec Plating?
Those who utilize Mil specs consist of not only the United States military but also NASA, and the National Labs. A vast amount of documents is dedicated to the various aspects of metal work including electroplating. Mil spec plating documents provide the exact requirements from these bodies for the various engineering – as opposed to decorative – applications of the tangible results of the process. For example, in the case of gold, mil specs plating standards are clearly provided in MIL-G 45204C. It defines the”
* Purity (type)
* Hardness (grade)
* thickness (class)
As is the case with all other specification systems, in Mil spec, plating is not the only concern. However, for those who do consider Mil spec plating the “gold standard,” documents provide clear and exact information on how to meet the requirements for such things as anodic coatings for aluminum and aluminum alloys, electroless nickel coatings and palladium plating.
Mil Spec Plating
Many companies offer work that conforms to the specifications required by certain organizations, associations or industries. ASTM requirements have been the specifications most commonly listed as being met by metal finishing and electroplating companies. These same companies also follow the specifications of another group that influences their market size and choice. As a result, many of these same metal finishing companies currently state they provide items that not only meet ASTM standards but also follow Mil spec plating.
At PEP General Metal Finishing, our company has followed a course of excellence in electroplating and related fields since 1972. Whether it is precious or non-precious metals that requires our attention, we are there to provide your company with the precision and exacting standards. Our products always meet those standards established by the ASTM and the military. A classic example is our Mil Spec Plating. To discover more about our company and its professional services visit us online at http://www.pepgenmetal.com/.
