Steel has been used for storing and transporting water for well over 150 years, and while we still use steel tanks today for a variety of purposes, we’ve also learned the importance of custom linings for these tanks. Storage tanks without linings — or with ill-fitting linings — are susceptible to corrosion, leaks, and spills. When these tanks are used for processes such as electroplating, reliable plating tank liners are needed.

Plating Tank Liners

Electroplating is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to coat and protect metal and in order for the process to work, plating tanks must have reliable liners. To better understand why, let’s take a look at the process of electroplating.

The Process

Electroplating starts with a metal or metal alloy that is deposited onto a material. This can be done with a wide variety of materials including plastics such as polysulfone, polycarbonate and polycarbonate blends.

To coat the chosen material, the metal ions from the chosen metal are settled into a tank, one that has the required plating tank liners, and the material is introduced. To adhere the coating to the material a current is applied that causes the two to bind.

Electroless plating is a similar concept; however, a chemical reaction is used in the place of an electric current to bind the coating to the material. For this process, proper plating tank liners are essential, especially given the chemical agents involved in the binding.

Line Before You Bind

Electroplating is a great way of coating metals, but without the proper custom linings you could be risking leaks and spills. Plating tank liners help extend the life of your tank so that you can continue benefiting from it longer.

No matter the size or shape of your plating tank, custom liners can be made to ensure every crack and crevice is covered. This helps maintain the integrity of your tank and can allow you to keep all the materials where you need them to be.

For those utilizing electroless plating, chemical liners can be great investments to make sure you won’t need to replace your tank due to corrosion or damage from the chemical agents. You also won’t have to worry about nasty leaks or hazardous cleanups. Everything will stay safe and secure in your tank.