Whitaker Finishing provides industrial silver plating on bus bars, other electrical components and bearing surfaces. Our versatile silver plating capabilities range from a silver flash to .0005" + thickness. Large tanks accommodate 10 ½' long parts. Our silver plating is a corrosion resistant cyanide coating that does not contain any chromates and can be plated on ferrous and non-ferrous base metals.
Silver is a highly conductive metal used in a wide variety of applications such as jewelry, the reflective surface on mirrors, the light sensitive coating on photographic film and paper, in batteries and numerous electronic applications.
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).
About the Property of Silver
Silver is usually recognized as a decorative coating, but is also an engineering coating due to its superior conductivity and corrosion resistance. Silver’s conductivity allows for extensive use in electrical components. Other advantages of silver plating include excellent solderability and lubricity.
Silver Plating Guidelines
The primary variables with silver plating are purity, brightness and post treatment. Brightness is classified as “Bright”, “Semi-Bright” and “Matte”. Purity will range from 99.0% to 99.9%. Since brightness is derived from an additive to the bath, the purity will tend to be lower as brightness increases. Also, solderability will tend to be better with the higher purity, matte finishes. Where wearability is a concern, the brighter finishes are preferred due to the smoother, harder surfaces.
Thickness of deposit will vary widely, depending on the application. Most applications require a thickness in the .0003 inch to .0005 inch range. Under QQ-S-365, the default thickness (if no thickness is specified) is .0005 inch. However thicknesses of a few thousandths are common where bearing surfaces are involved.
| Silver Plating
White matte to very bright in appearance. Good corrosion resistance, depending on base metal. Will tarnish easily. Hardness varies from about 90 Brinnell to about 135 Brinnell depending on process and plating conditions. Solderability is excellent, but decreases with age. Best electrical conductor. Has excellent lubricity and smear characteristics for anti galling uses on static seals, bushing, etc. |
| Spec. |
Thickness |
Comment |
| QQ-S-365D |
|
|
| |
0.0005" min. unless otherwise specified |
Increasing use in both decorative and engineering fields, including electrical and electronic fields. |
| Type I |
|
Matte |
| Type II |
Semi-bright |
| Type III |
Bright |
| Grade A |
Chromate post treatment to improve tarnish resistance |
| Grade B |
No chromate treatment. |
* Please note: This specification is provided for reference only, as it has been cancelled.
Users may consult ASTM-B700 |
This specification covers requirements for electrodeposited coatings of silver used for engineering
purposes that may be matte, bright, or semibright and are not less than 98% silver purity. |
| Spec. |
Thickness |
Comment |
| ASTM-B-700-97 (2002) |
|
|
| Type I |
---------------------- |
99.9% min |
| Type II |
---------------------- |
99.0% min |
| Type III |
---------------------- |
98.0% min |
| Grade A |
As Specified
(Ref Table 3.1) |
Matte |
| Grade B |
Bright |
| Grade C |
Bright (obtained by polishing of Grade A) |
| Grade D |
Semibright |
| Class N |
No supplementary tarnish resist (chromate) treatment. |
| Class S |
With supplementary tarnish resist (chromate) treatment (not suitable for food service applications). |
Please contact Whitaker Finishing at (419) 666-7746 or fill out our on-line form for a quote for your Silver Plating requirements.
