After the electroplating process is completed, the inspection link is a key step to ensure the quality of the product. Today, we will introduce the inspection standards of electroplating products in an easy-to-understand way.
The coating thickness is the basic test item, and we use an X-ray fluorescence Thickness Gauge (X-RAY) to measure it. This instrument is like a "CT scan" of a product, where the coating is irradiated by X-rays and the returned energy spectrum is analyzed to determine the thickness and composition.
Tips for use:
Calibration should be done every time the machine is turned on
Check the crosshairs on a monthly basis
Calibrated with a gold-nickel standard at least once a week
Different substrates should be tested according to the corresponding test procedures
Poor adhesion is one of the common problems of electroplating, and we have two detection methods:
Bending method - use copper sheet to pad the sample, bend it at 180 degrees, and use a microscope to see if there is any peeling or falling off
Adhesive tape method - Quickly tear it off after sticking it with 3M tape to see if it will bring down the plating
Eligibility Criteria:
No metal powder can come off
The plating is not visible to peel off
There must be no serious cracking after bending
There should be no blistering
The underlying metal must not be exposed
For products that need to be welded, welding performance is crucial. There are two ways to test:
Direct immersion tin method
After dipping the flux, immerse it in a 235°C tin pot for 5 seconds, and see that the tin area should be > 95% and the surface should be smooth
Soldering after aging
Steam aging for 8-16 hours, and then testing the welding performance to simulate the use in harsh environments
Fourth, visual inspection
Appearance is the most intuitive quality indicator, which should be observed with a microscope of more than 10 times:
Eligibility Requirements:
The color is uniform, and there can be no blackening, redness and other different colors
The surface is clean, and there can be no dust, oil, etc
Must be completely dry
The surface is smooth, and there can be no pits, particles
There must be no scratches, deformations, etc
The plating should not blister or fall off
The plating position should meet the requirements of the drawing
Packaging is the "façade" of the product, which requires:The packaging is in the right direction,The packing box is clean and tidy without damage,The label is complete and accurate,The number of internal and external labels is the same.
Depending on the customer's requirements, you may also need to do:Salt spray test (to check corrosion resistance),Porosity test (for gold-plated products),Other environmental tests