Substrate surfaces need to be free of oil, grease, oxides and sulfides. The parts should be finished with surface preparation before being transferred to the electrolysis plant, where they will undergo further cleaning and the surface will be prepared through a multi-cleaning process. There will be no appreciable change in the surface configuration of the electrolysis process.
Clean surfaces are important. When conventional chrome is used, component failures are often incorrectly attributed to a "flaking" effect that is actually due to contaminant residue, which is covering or surrounding chrome falling off, followed by sliding or other mechanical action. This leaves an ineffective chrome, which in turn deteriorates further, leading to surface speech.
Surfaces need to be free of scale and soil to ensure good corrosion resistance. Any scale left on the surface will gradually rust and become a core of additional rust. For items with a "stainless steel" appearance, all traces will need to be removed by grinding, pickling or polishing.
Important surfaces to be machined should be completely finished before machining. For good results, the surface finish should be 32 rms or better. Fine flour, better to electrolize. This is real done 2 to 4 rms or better. Surface finish received by electrolytic 4 RMS or less may show some slight roughening of the surface after application. In most cases, these surfaces can be sanded or polished back to their original condition. All surfaces shall be free of plating. Nitrided parts should be machined or steam exploded before machining. The electrolytic coating will not adhere to brazed or welded areas unless all impurities are removed prior to machining or steam blasting of these. Unless otherwise stated, the coating shall be applied after all base metal machining has been completed. This includes heat treating, stress relieving (where necessary), machining, brazing, welding and forming. Coatings should be applied directly to the substrate without any intermediate coats.
Electrolysis is a low temperature process. During cleaning and coating, the temperature of parts does not exceed 180°F.
Generally speaking, the length of parts should be less than 20 feet and within 30 inches. Diameter is 4000 lbs. Parts exceeding these limits should discuss electrolysis.
