Nearly every die-cast material requires a coating for corrosion protection. For components requiring cosmetic finishes, nickel is typically the best underlayer for finishing. It has excellent adhesion properties and acts as a barrier between the metal and the skin. For example, we would cast the component and then apply a layer of nickel plating to create a foundation for the cosmetic coating, whether satin chrome, PVD or another finish.
With the continued growth of wearables and fitness trackers, concern arises when the coating scratches off, leaving nickel in contact with the skin. This creates challenges for die casters and suppliers in the consumer electronics industry. Buyers with sensitive skin can develop a rash from metal wearables containing nickel, resulting in negative publicity for your business. As 15% of Dynacast's customers are from consumer electronics, our Dynacast Singapore facility set out to find a solution.
Highly cosmetic nickel-free plating options
For years, to prevent allergic reactions caused by nickel-to-skin contact, companies manufactured components using MIM with stainless steel or machined them from aluminium or steel billet. Depending on component complexity, die casting can be a more economical choice than MIM and is almost always more cost-effective than machining from billet. This can save several dollars in part cost, which adds up quickly in high-volume production runs. However, businesses must take the necessary measures to prevent any legal liability from an unhappy customer.
Dynacast Singapore offers an effective alternative. Nickel-free plating options for die castings that will not leave consumers with severe skin rashes. This coating is used as the base layer before the cosmetic finish and can be used on almost any material—although it works best on aluminium and zinc alloys. This enables design engineers to design more freely.
The ability to design and manufacture zinc and aluminium components for the wearables market, while offering allergy-free products, has opened up a wealth of opportunities in the consumer electronics industry. These die-casting options cost less than current components.
This coating is also suitable for the virtual reality and medical device markets. With over 18 different colour options, the possibilities for this coating are endless.
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