Industry News
Silver Plating For Aerospace: Solderability, High-Temperature Performance, And Specification Guide
Key Takeaways: Conductivity Leader: Silver plating delivers excellent electrical and thermal performance for aerospace connectors and contacts. Heat Resilient: It sustains solderability and conductivity across many high-temperature environments and acts as a...
Copper Plating In Aerospace And Defense: Electrical Conductivity Applications And Key Specs
Key Takeaways: Conductivity First: Copper plating delivers the electrical performance that avionics, RF systems, and grounding paths demand. Spec-Driven: AMS 2418 and MIL-C-14550 govern thickness, adhesion, and quality for aerospace-grade copper plating. One...
Why Nadcap Platers Lose Accreditation: Compliance Failures And What Procurement Teams Should Know
Key Takeaways: Accreditation Is Fragile: Nadcap is process-specific and lost quickly when non-conformances go uncorrected or audit cycles slip. Supplier Risk Is Program Risk: One plater losing accreditation can halt a qualified production line and force costly...
Common Defects In Anodized Aerospace Parts: Causes, Inspection Methods, And Prevention
Key Takeaways: Root Causes: Most anodizing defects trace back to poor surface prep, unstable bath chemistry, or temperature and timing drift. Detection Matters: Layered inspection—visual, coating weight, thickness, and corrosion testing—catches defects before parts...
Hydrogen Embrittlement In Aerospace Plating: Causes, Testing, And Baking Requirements
Key Takeaways: Hydrogen Embrittlement Poses Catastrophic Risk: High-strength aerospace components can fail without warning when hydrogen atoms compromise material ductility during plating operations. Mandatory Baking Cycles Mitigate Absorption: Post-plate thermal...
Phosphate Fluoride Treatment For Titanium: The Boeing BAC 5861 Process Explained
Key Takeaways: Purpose-Built Chemistry: Phosphate-fluoride treatment conditions titanium surfaces to boost adhesive and coating adhesion on bonded and painted parts. Boeing-Controlled Spec: BAC 5861 governs approved processing requirements to help ensure repeatable,...
Hard Chrome Plating vs. Electroless Nickel: Choosing The Right Coating For Wear And Corrosion
Key Takeaways: Hard Chrome Plating Delivers Superior Wear Resistance: Maximum hardness and low friction make chrome plating aerospace components the standard for high-wear applications. Electroless Nickel Provides Uniform Corrosion Protection: Chemical deposition...
Borescope Inspection In Aerospace MRO: Applications, Capabilities, And Nadcap Requirements
Key Takeaways: Non-Invasive Access: Borescope inspection evaluates internal components without disassembly, reducing downtime and cost. Nadcap-Governed: Aerospace borescope inspection may fall under Nadcap NDT accreditation when required by the customer, the prime...
Zinc-Nickel Plating For Aerospace And Defense: The Case For Replacing Cadmium
Key Takeaways: Zinc Nickel Plating Outperforms Cadmium in Corrosion Resistance: The alloy coating delivers superior salt-spray performance while eliminating regulatory and environmental liabilities. Regulatory Pressure Is Accelerating Cadmium Phase-Out: REACH...
Shot Peening For Aerospace Components: Fatigue Life Extension, Specs, And Process Overview
Key Takeaways: Shot Peening Prevents Fatigue Failure: Compressive stress layers inhibit crack initiation in high-cycle loading environments. Aerospace Specs Define Quality: AMS and SAE standards ensure consistent coverage, intensity, and process control across...