Clear Zinc Plating
Clear Zinc plating refers to a colorless chromate conversion coating that is applied over zinc as part of the post plating process. Clear chromate or passivate protects the zinc layer and offers additional protection against corrosion. This finish gives the part surface a silver appearance with a slight blue tint.
Clear Zinc is a widely used finish across industries because it an economical solution for effective corrosion protection. Clear Zinc is often referred to as “commercial clear” or “commercial zinc” when an exact plating thickness is not specified. Commercial zinc plating provides coverage on all significant part surfaces with an approximate average coating thickness of about .0002” - .0003”.
High Corrosion Clear Zinc
In addition to Clear Zinc, there is also High Corrosion Clear which offers the same benefits of standard clear but can meet a salt spray test requirement of up to 120 hours with no white corrosion. This finish has a silver appearance with slight blue, green and pink iridescence. High corrosion clear is ideal for parts exposed to moderately severe environments such as hydraulic manifolds and tubing, large fasteners, material handling equipment and building products.
Considerations
Clear Zinc is an effective finish that works well across a variety of industries, however it may not be suitable for every application.
Although Clear Zinc has many cosmetic benefits such as providing a bright appearance, it may not be suitable for highly cosmetic uses where nickel or chrome finish might typically be applied.
Zinc Plating is primarily intended as functional corrosion resistant coating. The luster and uniformity of the finish will depend largely on the surface condition of the part being plated. A part that is smooth and polished will tend to have a shiny appearance. A part that is rough and dull will have a similar dull appearance after plating.
| Zinc | Barrel | Rack | Salt Spray | Common Specifications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Trivalent | X | X | Up to 12 Hrs | ASTM B 633 Type III |
| High Corrosion Clear Trivalent | X | X | Up to 120 Hrs | ASTM B 633 Type V |
Benefits of Clear Zinc
- Excellent Corrosion protection
- Widely available
- Cost effective
- Standard Clear for Basic Protection
- High Corrosion Clear for Increased Protection
Why Choose Gatto
Gatto Industrial Platers operates out of a 210,000 square foot facility and is home to King Kong, the largest zinc plating line in North America. With King Kong’s extra -large tanks we can handle large parts up to 27’ in length as well as heavy parts up to 8000 lbs. A few of the industries we serve include agricultural, building & structural products, electronics & telecommunications, and more.
In addition to being the largest, we are a family owned company with a focus on quality. We have honed our process over the past 40 years to provide unmatched results on all types of parts. Our skilled
production staff excels at overcoming these and other common plating challenges:
- Elimiating stains caused by welds
- Seams
- Blind Holes
- Better coverage in recesses and corners
- Eliminating I.D. rust in tubing
Every quote request is reviewed by our technical staff to ensure we can meet customer requirements and expectations. Contact us today for more information on our clear zinc chromate plating today.