Oil and Gas
Oil and Gas are renewable sources of energy and are available in abundance. However, extraction of oil and gas requires heavy and complex equipments like shakers, drills, pumps etc. These products require metal finishing to lasts longer.
WHERE IS IT USED?
Plating has tremendous advantages including corrosion protection, electrical conductivity and oxidation resistance.It also increases the strength and durability of the components. It promotes greater resistance to heat and gives a good aesthetic appeal. Plating is majorly used in the following components in petrochemical industry
✓ Gate Valves
✓ Subsea systems
✓ Actuator mandrels
✓ Enclosures and threads
✓ Pumps
✓ Gripper trees and housings
✓ Coring tubes
and more…
Plating Process
Plating can be done in variety of ways depending on the type of application. Here are a few important process used by petrochemical to plate different components.
Electroless Nickel Plating
Electroless Nickel Plating is the chemical process of depositing a layer of nickel-phosphorus or nickel-boron alloy on a surface. In aerospace, this process is primarily used to provide more even and uniform coating on the surface. Various types of nickel alloys are used in this process based on the need:
✓ High Phosphorus for corrosion protection
✓ Medium Phosphorous for aesthetic appeal
✓ Low Phosphorus for hardness
Gold Plating
Gold plating provides corrosion resistance and prevents the substrate from tarnishing. Gold is a good conductor of electricity and is used for making components such as connectors, switches and electrical contacts.
Copper Plating
Copper plating is extremely cost effective and is an excellent conductor of electricity. It is mainly used for manufacturing of printed circuits and connectors. It is also used for risers, couplings, tubulars and premium drill pipes