Mold plating processing technology is a common technology to improve mold performance, which mainly includes the following steps:
- Cleaning: Put the mold into the cleaning tank for oil, dirt and rust removal to ensure that the surface of the mold is clean for subsequent processing.
- Pickling: Soak the cleaned mold in an acidic solution to remove the oxide layer and residue on the surface and increase the surface roughness so that subsequent coatings can adhere.
- Nickel plating: Soak the mold in a nickel plating bath, and plate a layer of nickel on the surface of the mold through electrochemical reaction to improve the hardness and wear resistance of the mold.
- Chrome plating: Soak the nickel-plated mold in a chromium plating tank, conduct an electrochemical reaction again, and plate a layer of chromium on the surface of the mold to increase the corrosion resistance of the mold.
- Polishing: Polish the coating to improve the appearance quality of the mold.
Through the above process, mold surface plating can extend the service life of the mold and improve the appearance quality of the mold, thereby ensuring product quality and output.
The benefits of mold plating mainly include the following aspects:
- Improve wear resistance: Mold plating can increase the hardness and wear resistance of the mold surface, thereby extending the service life of the mold. This is especially important for producing high-precision, high-demand parts or products.
- Anti-corrosion: Mold plating can prevent the mold surface from being corroded, thereby maintaining the accuracy and appearance quality of the mold. In humid environments, the electroplating layer can effectively prevent the mold from rusting.
- Improve conductivity: Mold plating can increase the conductivity of the mold, which is very beneficial for electroplating processes that require high current.
- Increase the aesthetics: Mold plating can make the surface of the mold smoother and flatter, thereby improving the aesthetics of the product.
- Repair function: Mold plating can also be used to repair worn or incorrectly processed workpieces to save costs.
- Reduce costs: Although mold plating requires a certain cost, it can extend the service life of the mold (sometimes even by 3 to 10 times), reduce the frequency of repair and replacement of molds, thereby reducing the overall production cost.
It should be noted that mold plating also has some limitations. For example, pollution will be generated during the electroplating process, and environmental issues need to be considered; at the same time, the electroplated layer may peel off at high temperatures, affecting the quality of the product. Therefore, when using mold plating, you need to weigh the pros and cons and make a choice based on your specific needs and environment.