Stainless Steel Electroplating?
Stainless Steel Electroplating?
(OP)
Ignorant mechanical engineer here seeking info.
Is it possible to electroplate bronze or cast-iron to achieve a stainless steel coating?
Is it possible to electroplate bronze or cast-iron to achieve a stainless steel coating?
"Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend." -Bruce Lee





RE: Stainless Steel Electroplating?
RE: Stainless Steel Electroplating?
RE: Stainless Steel Electroplating?
The reason I'm asking about stainless steel specifically is because I need materials that are potable, i.e. drinking water safe. The two major metals used in potable water plumbing are bronze and stainless steel because of the virtually non-existent lead content. My company already produces one of our products in a bronze format and now we're looking to expand that product-line with stainless steel.
So just to clarify are you guys saying it's completely impossible to electroplate/electroless bronze or cast iron to stainless steel? Or are you just recommending chromium and nickel?
"Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend." -Bruce Lee
RE: Stainless Steel Electroplating?
RE: Stainless Steel Electroplating?
Let's pretend cost is not an issue; is it possible?
"Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend." -Bruce Lee
RE: Stainless Steel Electroplating?
RE: Stainless Steel Electroplating?
"Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend." -Bruce Lee
RE: Stainless Steel Electroplating?
Whilst Nothing is impossible it would at best be very difficult , hence the recommendations for Nickel or Chrome.
B.E.
You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.
RE: Stainless Steel Electroplating?
As CoryPad noted there are coating processes like flame spray, plasma spray, HVOF, arc spray, etc. that can apply stainless steel alloys to a bronze or cast iron substrate. But there are some limitations to these processes. They work best when applied to external surfaces that have fairly simple geometry, and coating internal surfaces is usually not possible unless the opening is large and shallow enough to permit spray nozzle access.
If cost is truly no concern, you might contact some vendors that perform PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) vacuum coating. I believe this process could be used to apply a thin film of stainless steel to a bronze or cast iron substrate. However I don't think it will be cheap, and you need to make sure your part will fit into the vacuum chamber.
Good luck to you.
Terry
RE: Stainless Steel Electroplating?