Mechanical plating, also known as peen plating, mechanical deposition, or impact plating, is a plating process that imparts the coating by cold welding fine metal particles to a workpiece. Mechanical galvanization is the same process, but applies to coatings that are thicker than 0.001 in (0.025 mm). It is commonly used to overcome hydrogen embrittlement problems. Commonly plated workpieces include nails, screws, nuts, washers, stampings, springs, clips, and sintered iron components.
The process involves tumbling the workpieces with a mixture of water, metal powder, media, and additives. Common coating materials are zinc, cadmium, tin, copper, and aluminium.
Invented by the Tainton Company in the 1950s it was further developed by the 3M company.
Read more about Mechanical Plating: Process, Advantages and Disadvantages
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