General application
Electrolysis serves a wide variety of engineering needs: chrome-to-spec, flash chrome, repair or salvage work, and heavy chrome applications prior to grinding. Electrolysis increases wear resistance, reduces friction, prevents galling and seizure, minimizes fretting corrosion, provides erosion resistance, and provides corrosion resistance. Compatible with all commonly machined ferrous and non-ferrous metals including aluminium, titanium, stainless steel, copper, brass and bronze. This is not recommended for coatings of magnesium, beryllium, columbium, lead, and their respective alloys.
On aluminum, electrolysis increases wear life and surface strength, reduces oxidation and corrosion, enhances appearance, and prevents galling, seizure, and corrosion. Electrolysis is also conductive, while other treatments of aluminum are not. The result of electrolysis is the absence of static buildup.
Because it is a thin, dense coating, electrolysis exhibits better wear and lubricity properties on hardened surfaces. Valid when base metal is 40 Rc or harder. In severe abrasive applications, the base metal should be hardened to the 50 to 62 Rc range prior to electrolysis. Electrolysis will improve the properties of any base metal, but it is not a substitute for heat treatment.
Table 29.1 lists suitable applications for electrolysis in the Rockwell hardness range for various base metals.
special application
Electrolysis is used for a variety of purposes in a variety of industries. Molds with electrolysis, mold rubber and plastic have better release characteristics and reduce wear (especially when abrasive materials are involved); cutting charges have a longer wear life; core components exhibit better wear and corrosion resistance; For stamping, deep drawing, forming and blanking Sharper cuts and longer life; engine and transmission components such as valves, valve guides, pistons, gears and splines are protected from harmful tolerance shifts or variations ; standard pumps and gauges can better handle corrosive fluids and materials; and bearings and bearing surfaces can run longer, run cooler, and outperform 400 series stainless steels in corrosion resistance. In fact, electrolysis makes it possible to use standard black steel instead of stainless steel in many applications , including food processing, medical environments, and ball or roller bearing applications.
Other applications include drive transmissions, power transmissions, gears, dies, screws, sockets, threaded parts and valves. In the automotive industry, applications include not only engine components, but also large metal forming tools for car body parts. Electrolysis has been used in these applications and other industries:
• Aerospace
• Aircraft and missiles
• armaments
• car
• Business machines
• Cameras and projectors
• computer
• Cryogenics
• data processing
• electronic product
• food processing
• Meters and measuring equipment
• medical instruments
• metal processing
• Molds (plastic and rubber)
• Automobile industry
• Nuclear energy
• pharmaceutical
• Photography (motion and stills)
• refrigeration
• textile industry
• transportation
