As the end of another year quickly approaches, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our progress possible.

In the spirit o this season we say simply, but sincerely,

Thank You!

Have a Happy
Holiday & a Healtky
& Prosperous New
Year!

LDC & WR Associates

Brush Plating Success Stories

As mentioned in an earlier newsletter, we welcome your input
on successful applications of the LDC Process.

The following two jobs were coordinated by one of LDC's long time platers who brought together numerous LDC certified platers from around the globe to complete the work.

Job one: Warstila V46 crankpin

Overall view of engine to be repaired

The Warstila V46 crankpin had come into contact with a counterbalance weight. This collision dented and scored the surface of the crankpin and its radii in several places.

This unit was at a utility company, at a remote location. The actual crankpin size is 17.72 inches diameter by 17.80 inches long (450 mm x 452 mm). Because of size and location, the repair had to be performed on site.

Warstila and the utility approved a proposal to take a very thin skim cut off the surface leaving only the severe damage to be filled with Brush Plating. The remaining deep damage was filled using LDC-2904 Copper Alkaline Hi-Speed. The copper was hand finished back down to proper size and finish. Finally, the entire area was covered with a layer of LDC-2807 Nickel Acid.

The engine was then reassembled, tested, and returned to full service.

Repaired Warstila V46 crankpin

Job two: tailshaft liner for supply vessel

This job involved repairing a tailshaft liner for a supply vessel. This repair required on site work at a drydock in the UK.

There were several wear areas on the stainless steel liner of the ship's starboard propshaft. Replacing the liner involved removing the propeller shaft and would take three to four weeks.

After LDC's agent performed an on site inspection, a repair procedure involving Brush Plating and on site machining was proposed.

The repair procedure was approved by Det Norske Veritas and the ship's owner. Work had to commence immediately.

The deepest damages were first filled in with LDC-2904 Copper Alkaline Hi-Speed and then polished. This was followed by a layer of LDC-2803 Nickel Hi-Speed 0.008 inches (200 microns) thick. Finally, LDC-2702 Cobalt M, 0.0016 inches (40 microns) thick, was added as a cap. This provided a wear resistant/corrosion resistant repair.

The entire liner was then super-polished. Total time in the drydock: four (4) days. An obvious time and cost savings.

LDC Copper Solutions

The article below outlines LDC's line of Copper brush plating solutions. This will aid in your selection of the proper copper for your application.

LDC-2901 Copper Acid D

Primary Use: Ideal for salvage of various types of parts. Very good for filling pits and scores. Excellent for sealing surface prior to nickel plating. Can be used for carburizing stop-off.

Solution Characteristics: Acid Copper. Easy to use and very reliable solution. Deposits very fast. Inexpensive to use.

Deposit Characteristics: Very dense deposit. Harder than normal copper metal. Excellent non-sacrificial corrosion protection under nickel.

Drawbacks: Corrosive to many base metals, especially ferrous metals. Very careful masking is required.

LDC-2902 Copper Alkaline

Primary Use: Carburizing Stop-off. Sometimes used as a preplate.

Solution Characteristics: Alkaline based Copper. Does not corrode
base materials.

Deposit Characteristics: More porous deposit than acid coppers. Thin build up only.

Drawbacks: Plates in tool cover. Slow to build-up thickness.

LDC-2903 Copper Acid Hi-Speed

Primary Use: Ideal for salvage and thick deposits. Can be used for carburizing stop-off.

Solution Characteristics: Highly acidic copper. The fastest plating build-up solution in brush plating. Many platers prefer to dilute this solution 50% with de-ionized water for easier control.

Deposit Characteristics: Very dense, hard (for copper) deposit. Easy to machine or grind.

Drawbacks: Extremely corrosive to ferrous base materials. Extensive, careful masking and thick preplate required.

LDC-2904 Copper Alkaline HiSpeed

Primary Use: Ideal for salvage. Fills pits and scores. Carburizing stop-off.

Solution Characteristics: Alkaline based copper. Does not corrode base materials. The fastest plating alkaline solution. Erodes graphite anodes less than other copper solutions. Throws well into pits and scores.

Deposit Characteristics: Deposit is more porous than acid copper and not as hard.

Drawbacks: Can plate into tool cover.

LDC-2905 Copper Neutral

Primary Use: Designed for replating dilitho printing cylinders. Carburizing stop-off.

Solution Characteristics: Neutral pH solution. Does not corrode base materials. Less likely to build up in tool cover than 2902.

Deposit Characteristics: Somewhat porous deposit. Can produce moderately thick deposits.

Drawbacks: Slower deposit rate. Will eventually build up in tool cover.

1999 Class Schedule
Plan ahead for your re-certification requirements