Cobalt Zinc Plating

Zinc-Cobalt Plating
• Zinc-Cobalt is developed to replace cadmium

• To enhance corrosion resistance.

• Has greater corrosion resistance than zinc.

• The electrodeposited Zn-Co alloy coating with alloying element cobalt (<5
wt%) is the most commercially viable option

• Maximum amount of cobalt was about 6-7 wt%

 Chromates
• Zinc-Cobalt like zinc can be combined with chromates and sealers to
increase corrosion resistance and improve the appearance.

• Chromates : a salt in which the anion contains both chromium and

oxygen, especially one of the anion CrO42−

• Chromates used with Zinc-Cobalt are:

- Gold
- Black
- Clear

Aceloy
 Zinc-Cobalt
Features:
• Co may be unregulated
• Less expensive v. zinc nickel
• Low Co alloys are highly ductile
- HV100 =150-200
- Parts can be deformed after plating
• Deposit is easier to chromate Automotive parts, zinc-cobalt
plated, illustrating a variety
Limitations: of chromates

• Chromates are dehydrated at elevated temperatures

• Less corrosion resistant vs. Zn-Ni, Zn-Fe
• Lower solderability vs Zn-Ni
• Higher coefficient of friction vs Cd
 Rack vs Barrel Plating
Rack Plating
• Parts are affixed to metal racks with screws,
wires or spring fingers.
• This causes the parts to remain stationary upon
immersion of the metal rack into the plating
solution.
• Metal platers prefer rack plating for delicate
parts that might not be able to withstand the
tumbling or cascading action produced by barrel
plating.
• Rack plating also works well for large or
complex components.
Disadvantages:
• Higher cost and increased labor requirements.
In many cases, it may be necessary to design
and manufacture a customized rack for
specialized applications.
Barrel Plating
• Placing the parts inside a barrel typically constructed
of polypropylene.
• The barrel contains center bars that conduct the
electrical current.
• The barrel rotates slowly while immersed in the
electrolytic plating solution.
• This causes the parts to tumble or “cascade,” which
provides an even, uniform coating application.
• Typical barrel plating applications include enhancing
corrosion protection, increasing aesthetic appeal and
producing an engineering finish that protects the
parts against wear and tear.
Disadvantage:
• Most barrel plating techniques require a low electrical
current, which can increase the time that the parts
are exposed to the plating solution.
The alkaline processes typically provide
a better distribution of plate thickness
over a wide current density range.

The acid processes are highly efficient

and, for some work, the desired plate
thickness can be obtained in a shorter
time.

The acid processes also lend themselves

readily to hardened steels and cast iron
parts.
Salt Spray Testing
 Salt Spray Performance of Zinc Alloys
Hours to exposure for 12 microns over steel
Coating Hrs To WR Hrs To RR
Bare Cadmium NA >1000
Cadmium + Chromate 672 >1000
Zinc-Nickel + Chromate (acidic solution) 168 336
Zinc-Nickel + Chromate (alkaline solution) >1000 >1000
Zinc-Tin + Chromate 672 >1000
Zinc-Cobalt + Chromate (acidic solution) 168 336
Zinc-Cobalt + Chromate (alkaline solution) 336 672
Hours to red rust for 8 microns over steel
• The optimum corrosion
performance was obtained with a
4-8% cobalt content range

• An increase over 8% caused a

decline in corrosion protection
similar to the trend observed for
zinc-nickel.

• Commercial zinc-cobalt alloys

generally contain small levels of
cobalt <1%, sufficient to give rise to
an improvement in corrosion
protection over zinc coatings alone

• Chromate passivation treatment of

0.6% zinc-cobalt coatings increased
the salt fog performance to almost
nine times longer than pure zinc
 Minimum Salt Spray Test Requirements
With trivalent chromites and a sealer or topcoat

http://www.wolverineplating.com/services_salt_spray.html
Zinc Alloy Plating for Automotive
Industry

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article
/pii/0026057696821039
Thank you