Brush plating is an industrial electroplating process designed for OEM and repair applications without the use of an immersion tank. Many applications require well-engineered and proven coatings that pose as little risk as possible to both the operator and the environment. Zinc-nickel is a less toxic alternative to cadmium that can be used to repair damaged cadmium, zinc-nickel, and IVD aluminum on high strength steels and it meets the performance requirements of AMS 2451/9, BAC 5664, and ASTM F 519. Zinc-nickel does not require a post-plating, hydrogen embrittlement relief bake and provides excellent corrosion protection - when properly applied.

There is an industry shift to decrease environmental impacts and improve employee safety. Through the application of zinc-nickel with non-drip plating tools, the operator no longer has to come in contact with the chemicals or fumes in the brush plating process – further enhancing the safety of the process and decreasing the environmental risk.

This paper will discuss best practices and new application technologies for brush plating zinc-nickel to meet hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion requirements. Proper plating techniques from preparatory steps to a trivalent chromium-cobalt conversion coating application are described to provide the optimal zinc-nickel deposit.