Metal Plating Services in Houston, TX

Gold plating is a method of depositing a thin layer of gold on the surface of other metal, most often copper or silver.

Gold plating is often used in electronics, to provide a corrosion-resistant electrically conductive layer on copper, typically in electrical connectors. With direct gold-on-copper plating, the copper atoms have the tendency to diffuse through the gold layer, causing tarnishing of its surface and formation of an oxide/sulfide layer.

A layer of a suitable barrier metal, usually nickel, has therefore to be deposited on the copper substrate, forming a copper-nickel-gold sandwich.

For less demanding applications in electronics, silver is often used as a cheaper replacement for gold. (Although silver is a better conductor than gold it does oxidize and so gold is better for contacts. However, variable capacitors are considered of the highest quality when they have silver plated plates. In this application there is no make and break contact so gold would not offer any advantage over silver).

Surface Techniques excels at plating threads for the purpose of anti-galling. Silver is a perfect medium for this procedure. Whether it’s just threads or the entire part Surface Techniques can help you with your Silver plating needs.

Surface Techniques excels at plating threads for the purpose of anti-galling. Copper is a good medium for this procedure. Whether it’s just threads or the entire part Surface Techniques can help you with your Copper plating needs.