Plating for the Microwave Industry

Plating for the Microwave Industry

Project description: Prodigy_0002_iStock_000067394209_XXXLarge

The plating services Prodigy Surface Tech provides for the microwave industry include plating on alloys of copper, nickel, iron and aluminum. A core competence is plating of refractory metals such as molybdenum, tungsten and tungsten-copper composites. Projects for plating for the microwave industry typically entail the plating of small components that measure approximately 0.25” in length, 0.3” in width, and 0.03” in thickness. However, microwave industry plating parts as small as a grain of sand or larger than a notebook can be accommodated. Nickel and gold are two of the most commonly plated materials for microwave applications because of their conductivity, bondability, brazability and corrosion resistance.

To properly perform nickel and gold plating on some components, work must be done in a reducing atmosphere furnace at high temperature.  This is typically referred to as clean firing or sintering and may take place before or after the plating process.  The plating and adhesion are tested using a variety of techniques including X-ray fluorescence, energy dispersive spectroscopy, standard microscopy, bending, baking and scoring in accordance with applicable Mil-Spec, AMS, and other industry standards.  Prodigy Surface Tech is ISO 9001: 2015 and AS9100 Rev. D certified serving customers in the most demanding industries. For additional information regarding custom plating projects completed for the microwave industry, please contact us directly.