Galvanic treatment consists in the deposition of a thin layer of a metal or an alloy that modifies the surface properties of the support.
The deposition takes place wet (with the aid of water) through the use of direct current (electrodeposition) or chemically (electroless), in special production lines, composed of a series of tanks (also called galvanic baths).
Galvanic, chemical or electrolytic treatments are intended to improve the decorative (such as the aesthetic appearance) and technical (such as resistance to abrasion, wear, corrosion) features of metals and plastic materials.
That said, in our daily life we often find objects that have been subjected, totally or partially, to galvanic treatments (for example: cars, taps, valves, appliances, buckles, glasses, scissors, electric cables).
The manufactured articles, following the processes they underwent during the production phase, are substantially "dirty" and consequently, before subjecting them to the galvanic treatment, they must be "cleaned".
The "cleaning" process varies and based on the assessment of the type of dirt that must be eliminated, we can talk about pickling, degreasing and conditioning.
Pickling: this is used to remove oxides after welding or metal stamping. Thanks to our extensive experience, we have developed high-performance preparations, including:
Degreasing: it is used to remove grease, oils, polishing pastes, fats.
Divided into:
Chemical degreasing: the cleaning action is promoted by the use of chemical preparations at medium-high temperatures (40-70°C) and, where necessary, with the aid of ultrasonic cleaning systems.
We offer latest generation products, such as: TG ACID (chemical acid degreaser) - TG BF 232 (soap-based chemical degreaser) and the well tested "E" series (soda-based chemical degreasers).
Electrolytic degreasing: carried out with the aid of electric current.
The piece consequently undergoes deeper cleaning and deoxidation, before the actual galvanic deposition.
Among the products in our range we can mention: ACTIVATION TG 19L; TG 13 E; TG 16ST; TG 21EF, these products can be used on different types of metals such as iron, brass, aluminium.
Conditioning: a process in which all the materials, as the word itself says, are put in the right condition to ensure the metal to be deposited can adhere well to their surface.
Depending on whether they are metallic or plastic materials, different processes are used, including: TG DICO TRIACID (brass); DURAPREP TG 520 (aluminium); CONDITIONER PM 920 (ABS-PC plastics).
These are the processes that are used to deposit metals such as copper, nickel, chromium and tin on the manufactured articles.
Alkaline copper without cyanide: CUPURE PROCESS
Acid copper: DL 900 PROCESS - DICO CU DF PROCESS
Acid tin: TIN GLEAM CD PROCESS
Semi-bright nickel: TG SEMIBRIGHT
Bright nickel: NI ROSS PROCESS ; NI BIG BRIGHT PROCESS ; RACK LUX PROCESS
Hexavalent chrome: NOVOLIT PROCESS – CR 94 PROCESS
Decorative gold: TG GOLD series which deposits are obtained through thickness and colours that vary according to the needs of the end customer.
The aforementioned processes are all electrolytic (with the assistance of electric current).
In addition, there are others of a chemical type that are used to give colourations (oxidations) on base materials such as brass, copper, steel:
BRONZOFIX, TUSCAN TG, STAINLESS STEEL TG
The primary objective of La Tecnogalvano is to research and develop, also in collaboration with partner Dow-Dupont, processes that have low impact on the environment.
Therefore, in addition to TEA PLUS® and RONALLOY™ GT-300/TEA® B, unique and performing processes have been introduced to the market such as:
CHROME GLEAM 3C (trivalent chromium based chlorides)
TG CHROME 3S (trivalent chromium based sulphates)
CHROME GLEAM 3C JET (trivalent chrome with a black finish)
TG BLACK 2.0 PROCESS (tin/nickel with low metal content with black finish)
SILVERON GT 101 (cyanide-free decorative silver)
In recent decades there has been a considerable increase of deposition on plastic materials (ABS-PC-NYLON) due to many metallic materials being replaced with this type.
In collaboration with DuPont, which has always been the market leader for these treatments along with first-class brands Shipley, Rohm & Haas and then DOW, LA TECNOGALVANO offers the whole preparation line (etching, conditioning, palladium) and the subsequent deposition lines such as NIPOSIT (chemical nickel with or without ammonia), ACID COPPER, SEMI- BRIGHT NICKEL, BRIGHT NICKEL and final coatings (Chrome, gold, black)
Important innovations are affecting the sector, among which LA TECNOGALVANO, in collaboration with DOW -DuPont, is implementing:
- ECOPOSIT™ CF-800 (DOW - DuPont patent) CrVI-free etching process
- CHEMICAL COPPER, formaldehyde-free, which replaces traditional chemical nickel-plating with considerable advantages.
These processes, also called "continuous depositions", are applied to manufactured articles, usually cables, slabs or strips that are treated continuously in large quantities, in special systems designed for the deposition of Copper, tin, Nickel, Silver.
The belts, or the wires, are continuously passed through the tanks where a first phase of degreasing, usually electrolytic, takes place, next proceeding with the required deposition or depositions.
For this application we offer excellent processes, which are characterised on the market by the speed of deposition, perfect adhesion and a satisfying aesthetic appearance. These include:
- As a degreaser: ACTIVATION TG 19L
- As depositions: NIKAL series (nickel sulphate or sulphamate), SOLDERON (opaque or bright acidic tin), SILVERON (silver), CUPURE (copper).