Hydraulic Ram & Cylinder Repairs
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0141 882 4724 Send An EnquiryThe method of depositing metal on metal by means of In-situ Electroplating was pioneered and developed in the United States of America. It has now been successfully used for the last 50 years to restore, repair, insulate and impart anti-corrosive properties to most base metals and alloys. The theory of In-situ plating is simple. It is a portable process whereby metal is deposited from a water-based solution onto a metal part, in restricted areas, creating an electrochemical bond. Durability of the surface treated in this manner can be extended by as much as five times some original specifications. No Hydrogen embrittlement occurs and it is usually a much denser and harder deposit that conventional bath plating.
The application and use of in-situ electroplating in industry has been made simple with newer lightweight portable units, enabling on site repairs. Great savings can be achieved by eliminat¬ing expensive dismantling, down time, possibly prolonged loss of produc¬tion and of course re-assembly. In-situ Electroplating is now an integral part of the manufacturing process for many industries.
The area of the work piece to be treated is used as a factor to calculate the precise deposit of the metallised solution, which enables considerable accuracy in rebuilding worn surfaces to a predetermined specification. The range of deposit can be calculated from .0001 - .1000".Consequent¬ly little or no machining may be required upon completion of the plating process.
Whilst in use, the in-situ plating process most resembles electric arc welding but without the heat. An electrode is connected to the work piece, but unlike arc welding, the process does not draw an arc. Instead the current passes through either a hand held or fixed anode wrapped with absorb¬ent material. This conveys the metallised solution to the work piece and ensures a constant supply of solution.
As the anode is moved over the area requiring treatment, the electrically activated solution commences to deposit the metal in a micron for micron fashion. The metal to metal bond produced is electrochemical in nature and very strong.
Typical users of this remarkable repair solution are: -
Other methods of restoring metal surfaces: -
Typical rate of deposit using a nickel solution (52 ROCKWELL C, 530 BRINELL) is .001" in two minutes. The finished surface being able to withstand operating temperatures 1000F (540C).
As you can see the “in-situ” process offers a metal restoration and treatment service that is far superior in many ways to the other methods described. Its absolute versatility makes it an obvious choice for most aspects of industry where metallic surfaces are prone to wear or corrosion.