Technical Data
At Little Falls Alloys, our proficiency in plated wire has been honed since 1965. The plating of copper alloys contributes a myriad of characteristics meticulously selected by our clients to achieve their specific performance goals. Our integrated process of drawing and plating wire on-site facilitates reductions in both lead time and cost. With an uptick in demand for fine wire, we have emerged as a forerunner in the drawing and plating of fine Beryllium Copper wire crafted to exact tolerances.
Diverse Plating Solutions
Gold, Silver, Copper, Nickel, and Tin represent the wire plating coating options we offer at Little Falls Alloys. We employ reel-to-reel electroplating, a strategy that aids in achieving conductivity, corrosion resistance, and solderability goals, ultimately enhancing the conductor’s performance for each distinct product.
- Gold – Gold, recognized as an exceptional conductor for connectors, pins, and springs, contributes to the aesthetic impact of the product and is predominantly utilized in high-performance connectors.
- Silver – Silver, a soft metal providing high conductivity, lowers the resistance of plated wire. The silver coating lends high solderability to the wire, although it may encounter some degree of oxidation. Silver plating proves advantageous in high-frequency applications due to the skin effect, leading to high flow levels through the silver. Additionally, it functions as a surface lubricant in forming operations.
- Nickel – Nickel, a hard metal, bolsters resistance to elevated temperatures. Frequently, nickel is deployed as a barrier between the base substrate and finish. Furthermore, it can help prevent the base metal from influencing the performance of the finish.
- Tin – Tin, an economical coating option, is often chosen when solderability is the primary aim. However, Tin contributes minimally to the resistance of base copper alloys to high temperatures. Its low melting point makes it suitable for applications where high temperatures are not a concern.
- Copper – Copper plating wire is routinely applied as a coating to Beryllium Copper alloys to enhance the lifespan of dies and forming machinery. It also serves as a barrier layer when nickel is unsuitable due to magnetic property requirements.
Our electroplating materials include Gold, Silver, Nickel, Tin, and Copper. The substrate options are Copper Wire and Copper Alloy Wire. The wire diameter we work with ranges from .0015-.050. Plating thickness is variable and contingent on the application and electroplating material. Our services cater to various industries such as aerospace, conductor, springs, automotive, electronics, and military. Reach out to Little Falls Alloys for all your wire plating needs, and benefit from our longstanding expertise in delivering high-quality, precision-focused solutions.