Copper Plating
Copper Plating
Copper Surface Finishing
Improving Metal Surfaces with Copper Plating Solutions
Armoloy Copper Plating
Increase Conductivity and Improve Corrosion Control
Armoloy’s Copper Plating Solution
The Armoloy Corporation helps global manufacturers protect their most valuable, high-precision components with a broad spectrum of engineered plating technologies.
Copper features a distinctive reddish-orange metallic color and plays a crucial role in many plating processes. It is commonly utilized as a strike layer and is increasingly used for its excellent adhesion qualities on various substrates, making it an ideal underplate. This makes copper essential in scenarios where strong adhesion is needed for subsequent layers of different materials. Additionally, copper’s outstanding thermal and electrical conductivity makes it valuable in a wide range of applications, including heating, industrial, and electrical sectors.
Copper Plating Highlights
- Excellent conductivity
- Absolute adhesion
- Enhanced corrosion resistance
- Malleable
- Aesthetic qualities
- Antibacterial properties
Proven applications
Copper is commonly applied to the listed components below, as well as many others:
- Circuit boards
- Automotive
- Marine structures
- Semiconductors
- Electrical wiring
- Industrial machinery
- EMI/RFI Shielding
- Medical devices
- Telecommunications
Certifications
- AMS 2418 Rev. H
- MIL-C-14550
- ASTM B734
- Most company specifications
Performance Characteristics
Copper Plating by the Numbers
- 99.9% pure copper strike
- Thickness up to 0.020" per side
- High temp bake up to 750°F (399°C)
- 0.0001" minimum deposit
Copper Plating
Features & Benefits
Excellent conductivity
Ideal for use in electrical and electronic components. The high conductivity is essential for manufacturing components that require efficient energy transfer
Good adhesion
Copper adheres well to a variety of substrates, providing a stable base layer for additional coatings. This characteristic ensures that subsequent layers of plating adhere better, which is particularly important in complex multi-layer plating processes
Enhanced corrosion resistance
While copper itself provides decent corrosion protection, it often serves as an undercoat for more corrosion-resistant metals like nickel, enhancing the overall durability of the coating against environmental factors
Malleability
Copper’s softness allows it to be easily shaped and molded without cracking, which is advantageous during the manufacturing of intricate parts
Cost Effectiveness
Compared to other metals like gold and platinum, copper is relatively inexpensive and widely available, making it a cost-effective option for plating needs
Aesthetic Qualities
Copper plating can be used to achieve a range of finishes, from matte to bright, adding decorative value to items such as jewelry and other consumer goods
Antimicrobial
Copper has inherent antibacterial capabilities, which make it suitable for medical and laboratory equipment where hygiene is crucial
Thermal conductivity
Apart from electrical conductivity, copper also efficiently conducts heat, which is beneficial in applications such as heat sinks and thermal management systems
The Science Behind Copper Plating
The copper electroplating process begins with the meticulous cleaning of the base material to prevent any imperfections. Following this, an electrolyte solution containing copper salts is used. The item to be plated acts as the cathode, and copper anodes are used. When an electric current is passed through the solution, copper ions are transferred from the anode to the cathode, effectively coating the base metal with a layer of copper. This setup allows for precise control over the thickness and uniformity of the copper layer, tailored to specific industry needs.
Additional Metal Treatments
Services at Armoloy
The Armoloy Corporation is here to provide support for your project, starting from the discovery phase and continuing through a successful production launch. Whether coatings are considered during the initial part design phase or become necessary due to product failures in the field, our team can assist you at any stage in the process.
How Metals Fail
Some of the most common metal failures include:
Armoloy’s different metal coating solutions help industries avoid costly metal failures and unplanned downtime.
Partner With Us
Eliminate metal failure from your operations. Meet our group of curious, innovative engineers and learn how we can help improve your industry with science-based solutions.