In the die-cast aluminum industry, customers often have such a requirement that after aluminum die casting, the surface treatment requirement of electroplating is needed. Then the question arises: are die-cast aluminum products suitable for electroplating? Let's discuss it below.

Regarding the above question, the answer is yes. Die-cast aluminum alloys can be electroplated. However, appropriate pretreatment and the selection of a suitable electroplating method are required, and of course, this will also increase the production cost to a certain extent.

Possible problems and solutions.

In our daily work, we often receive inquiries from some customers who require anodizing surface treatment for their aluminum alloy die-casting products. Since customers often see that the appearance of some anodized aluminum products is very nice and beautiful, they naturally assume that anodizing can also be done on aluminum alloy die-casting products. So, are aluminum alloy die-casting products suitable for anodizing?

1.Surface quality issues

The chemical properties of aluminum alloys are relatively active, and they are prone to oxidation in the air. Moreover, there may be some unevenness or microscopic defects (such as sand holes) on the surface of die-castings, which may all affect the electroplating process and the quality of the plating layer, resulting in a relatively high defective rate of electroplating on die-cast aluminum alloy products. This requires that die-cast aluminum products need to undergo surface pretreatment during electroplating to thoroughly clean the surface of die-castings, remove oil stains, oxide scales, burrs, etc. Common methods include chemical degreasing, mechanical grinding, sandblasting or chemical etching, etc., to improve the surface quality of die-castings and thus increase the electroplating yield rate of die-castings.

2.Adhesion issues

Since the adhesion may be poor when die-cast aluminum parts are directly electroplated, usually an intermediate transition metal layer, such as copper, nickel, tin or electroless nickel plating, will be plated on the surface of the aluminum alloy first to enhance the bonding force between the plating layer and the substrate. This multi-layer electroplating method is more suitable for products with relatively high decorative requirements.

3.Hydrogen embrittlement issues

During the electroplating process of die-cast aluminum parts, the "hydrogen embrittlement phenomenon" often occurs, that is, hydrogen gas is released during the electroplating process and is easily absorbed, resulting in problems such as cracking of the plating layer, hydrogen embrittlement, and failure, reducing the strength and toughness of the product. However, to avoid the problem of hydrogen embrittlement, special electroplating processes and post-treatment methods, such as dehydrogenation treatment and baking, need to be adopted.

4.High cost issues

Based on the above-mentioned issues, to achieve the electroplating effect of die-cast aluminum parts, the cost is relatively high. The electroplating process of die-cast aluminum products is relatively complex and requires the handling of multiple procedures, including surface treatment, electroplating, post-treatment, etc., which will increase the production cost. Meanwhile, to ensure the electroplating quality, high-quality electroplating materials and equipment need to be used, which will also increase the cost.

Conclusion

In conclusion, for die-cast aluminum products, if the appearance requirements are not very high and only the anti-corrosion, conductivity and other properties of electroplating are needed, electroplating can also be chosen. If the appearance requirements are relatively high, attention needs to be paid to challenges such as surface quality issues, hydrogen embrittlement issues and high cost. Before electroplating, sufficient evaluation and testing need to be carried, and suitable electroplating processes and materials need to be selected to ensure the quality and performance of the products.