Decorative Coatings

Enthone® decorative coatings make trumpets shine and jewelry sparkle. And as parts become lighter, value-added Enthone processes become more popular. From automobile grills, textile clothing fasteners, watches, spectacle frames, high fashion accessories, metal furniture, household appliances and musical instruments, Enthone decorative plating processes make them look and work their best!

Please select a Trade Name, Application, or Process from the above menus to view product details within the Decorative Coatings section of the Enthone web site.

Process
Gold - Decorative
Low Karat Gold
Gold Strikes
Flash/Color Gold
High Karat Gold
White Precious Metals
Silver
Ruthenium
Palladium/Palladium Alloys
Platinum
Bright Rhodium
Bronze
Decorative
Topcoat
Decorative
Plating on Plastics - Substrate Preparation
Colloidal Activation
Electroless Nickel Plating
Copper Electroplating
Acid Copper
Alkaline Copper
Nickel Electroplating
Nickel
Chrome Electroplating
Chromium Plating

Gold - Decorative

Low Karat Gold

Product	Features/Benefits
ARTFORM® Gold Electroforming	ARTFORM is a cost-effective system of manufacturing fine gold (10K, 14K, 18K, or 24K) jewelry by using advanced electroforming process chemistry and computer controlled equipment. Conventional methods such as stamping or pressing require expensive tools and a minimum metal thickness for successful fabrication. ARTFORM requires no such tooling while reducing the metal thickness normally required by conventional methods. ARTFORM provides the flexibility to manufacture more complex and intricate designs than difficult casting techniques. Since the pieces are hollow, the jewelry is lightweight and gold usage is reduced. (Currently available in Europe and Asia only.)
AUROLOY® Low Karat Gold	AUROLOY low-karat gold processes (12K-18K) offer cost savings over high-karat golds when electroplating to substantial thicknesses. For example, a 12 karat deposit which is 50% gold by weight is only 33% gold by volume because of the lighter weight gold alloy. This results in a gold savings of up to 67%. Virtually all AUROLOY deposits are top-coated with a high-karat gold to achieve maximum nobility. These easy-to-operate processes make it simple to maintain karat, brightness, and color. AUROLOY low-karat gold is ideal for all decorative applications, especially items subject to wear and handling, such as watch cases, writing instruments, optical goods, rings, flatware, and hollowware. (Currently available in Europe and Asia only.)

Gold Strikes

Product	Features/Benefits
AUROBOND® TN Gold Strike	An AUROBOND TN gold strike applied under a KARATCLAD® or AUROLOY® gold deposit is the lowest cost assurance of perfect adhesion. An AUROBOND TN gold strike also minimizes drag-in of contaminates into the gold plating bath and minimizes the effect of pores in the base metal...

Flash/Color Gold

Product	Features/Benefits
AUROFLASH® Flash Gold	The AUROFLASH™ processes produce flash gold deposits with a broad range of colors. Low gold thicknesses make the processes extremely cost-effective and ideally suited for spectacle frames and other intricate jewellery plating. (Currently available in Europe and Asia only.)
P.T.S.® Color Gold	P.T.S. color golds offer color variations from 14K pink and green to 24K Old English. Any color can be achieved from seven basic processes including subtle variations often difficult to capture and maintain. The alkaline-based baths are extremely stable. Piece after piece, deposits remain color-perfect across the rack. P.T.S. color golds offer excellent resistance to corrosion and tarnish. The processes produce flash gold deposits with a broad range of colors. Ideally suited for all decorative applications, some of the processes qualify for nickel-free jewelry applications.

High Karat Gold

Product	Features/Benefits
KARATCLAD® High Karat Gold	KARATCLAD® high-karat gold processes offer maximum purity. All processes are 22-24 karat. The color spectrum in this series is broad. Many colors can be matched and the particular variation will be consistent. Deposits from the KARATCLAD process will not tarnish or discolor and offer excellent resistance to corrosion. It will plate to 3 microns or more without change in color or surface texture. The process is easy to control and maintain in rack and barrel operations. KARATCLAD gold process is suitable for all decorative applications and is ideal for fine jewelry applications.
ULTRACLAD® High Karat Gold	ULTRACLAD high karat gold, non-cyanide processes yield 16-24K deposits that will not tarnish or discolor. Each process offers excellent resistance to corrosion and will plate to 5 microns or more without change in color or surface texture. Unlike gold potassium cyanide processes, ULTRACLAD produces stable shades of gold. The processes maintain excellent distribution that enables uniform metal thicknesses on complex shapes. The processes are easy to control and may be used in rack and barrel operations. ULTRACLAD gold processes are suitable for all decorative applications and are ideal for fine jewelry applications and spectacle frames. Contact your Enthone representative for the ULTRACLAD process that will meet your specific application.

White Precious Metals

Silver

Product	Features/Benefits
SILVREX® White Metal Technology	SILVREX S silver electroplating process yields a mirror bright, soft white, silver deposit. Specifically designed for high volume applications where dragout is minimal, SILVREX S deposits are extremely ductile and have excellent solderability. Because the process does not contain a metallic brightener, it may be used for electrical and electronic, as well as decorative applications...

Ruthenium

Product	Features/Benefits
RUTHENEX® Ruthenium	RUTHENEX GR-3 ruthenium electroplating process is capable of producing thicknesses up to 0.3 microns. The deposits are bright, hard, wear and corrosion resistant with a uniform gun metal gray to black color. Ideally suited for decorative applications such as watch cases, plumbing fixtures, writing instruments and all nickel-free jewelry applications...

Palladium/Palladium Alloys

Product	Features/Benefits
DECOREX® Palladium	DECOREX processes produce a white palladium electro-deposit that approaches the whiteness of bright rhodium at a fraction of the cost. DECOREX processes can also be used to create a barrier layer for nickel-free applications. The DECOREX system combines copper with white metal technology. DECOREX white palladium deposits offer a barrier layer to prevent metal migration to the surface. The alternative satisfies European nickel-free requirements. (Currently available in Europe and Asia only.)
PALLADEX® Palladium Alloy	PALLADEX palladium-nickel alloys are used as a color match for polished stainless steel. Available in a variety of formulations, contact your local Enthone representative to determine the palladium-nickel alloy most appropriate for your decorative application.

Platinum

Product	Features/Benefits
PLATANEX® LUNA Platinum Electroplating Process	PLATANEX LUNA is an alkaline, high-speed, low stress, pure platinum electroplating process specifically designed to produce uniform deposits to any desired thickness. The process produces hard, ductile, matte deposits. PLATANEX LUNA is also recommended for processing electronic and other components where anti-oxidation properties in a high temperature environment are desired...

Bright Rhodium

Product	Features/Benefits
RHODEX® Bright Rhodium	RHODEX BRIGHT RHODIUM plating process produces a brilliant white deposit that combines extreme hardness, high reflectivity and excellent tarnish resistance. The process yields a durable white color that is 99.99% pure with excellent wear characteristics. RHODEX BRIGHT RHODIUM is capable of thicknesses in excess of 2 microns...

Bronze

Decorative

Product	Features/Benefits
BRONZEX® Electrolytic Bronze Processes	BRONZEX bronze processes provide a yellow or white color appearance and often used as precious metal undercoats. The alkaline cyanide processes are available for both rack and barrel electroplating applications...

Topcoat

Decorative

Product

Features/Benefits

CLEARLYTE® SELECT Acrylic Topcoat

CLEARLYTE SELECT is a water-based acrylic topcoat for use on electroplated or mechanically finished gold, silver, nickel, and other metal surfaces. The finish prevents tarnish and corrosion while improving wear properties and also maintains the color and brightness of the original finish. CLEARLYTE SELECT is electrophoretically deposited, producing a uniform deposit with no runs, teardrops, or bare spots. A pencil hardness of 3-4h is obtained after curing...

Plating on Plastics - Substrate Preparation

The UDIQUE® colloidal pre-treatment process is designed to prepare plastic substrates for subsequent copper, nickel, chromium, or gold electroplating. It is the preferred pretreatment in a broad range of automotive, appliance, jewelry, and consumer hardware applications.

The UDIQUE process consists of the following steps: etching to render the plastic surface hydrophilic and create a bonding surface; neutralization to eliminate hexavalent chromium; activation to provide catalytic sites for subsequent electroless deposition; acceleration to further enhance catalytic activity; and electroless plating to deposit a continuous, conductive coating that is well-bonded to the plastic surface. Because UDIQUE is a system, the entire pretreatment process delivers performance superior to "home brews" and mix-and-match formulations. This also makes conversion to the UDIQUE process fast and economical.

UDIQUE operates with a very wide operating window. This makes the process easy to control. It also minimizes "skips" in the pre-plate and eliminates high current density "burns" for fewer rejects. UDIQUE users also report reduced plating costs, increased production, and lower rack maintenance costs.

Colloidal Activation

Process Cycle
Pre-Etch
ENPLATE® Pre-Etch
Etch
ANKOR® Wetting Agent SRK
Promoter; Aids in palladium absorption on PC/ABS resins
ENPLATE® Promoter 846
Neutralize
UDIQUE® 862 Neutralizer
Activation
UDIQUE® 879W Activator
Acceleration
UDIQUE® 885 Accelerator
UDIQUE® 887 DT Accelerator
Electroless Nickel
UDIQUE® 891
Acid Copper Strike
UDIQUE® 594 Concentrate

Electroless Nickel Plating

Product	Application	Features/Benefits
ENfinity® 12 LF	Corrosion resistant High Phosphorus, Lead-free, Long Life	A revolutionary new "long life", high phosphorus electroless nickel technology. Very corrosion resistant and ductile deposits passing the Nitric acid test. Corrosion resistant deposits maintain internal compressive stress upto 20 MTO's. High productivity process with consistent performance and stability. Suitable for endless, consistent operation with ENfinity Steady State technology. Conforms with ELV, RoHS and WEEE directives. Available in Europe and Asia.
ENfinity® 4LF	Wear resistant, Low Phosphorus, Cadmium and Lead-free, Long Life	High as plated hardness, wear resistant long life EN. 700 HV (Vickers) without heat treatment. High productivity process operating at low Temperature. Semi bright deposits maintain internal compressive stress upto 20 MTO's. Suitable for endless, consistent operation with ENfinity Steady State technology.
ENfinity® 9LF	Mid Phosphorus Cadmium and Lead-free Long Life	High productivity process with consistent performance and stability. Wide range of application particular suitable for EN on Aluminum. Bright deposits maintain internal compressive stress upto 20 MTO's. Suitable for endless, consistent operation with ENfinity Steady State technology.The process has the unique capability to produce deposits within a phosphorus content range of 7.5 to 10%. To view and download a fact sheet, click here.
ENfinity® SteadyState	Continuous, Automatic Operating System for ENfinity® Electroless Nickel	Engineered for exclusive use with Enthone's patented ENfinity platform of extended life electroless nickel processes. ENfinity SteadyState provides a simplified, low cost means to achieve consistent process operating conditions and deposit properties that will provide improved process performance and reduce customer operating cost. The ENfinity SteadyState operating system further enhances the consistent deposit properties and extended operating life achieved with ENfinity electroless nickel products by offering automatic process control with an infinite operating solution life.
ENPLATE® EN-333LF	Corrosion resistant, High Phosphorus. Lead-free	Lead-free, high speed EN process meets industry initiatives such as the End-of-Life Vehicle Directive (ELV), the European Union’s Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), and the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). Excellent stability and consistent plating rate. Offers an exceptional operating flexibility and a wide operating window. Very corrosion resistant and ductile deposits passing the Nitric acid test
ENPLATE® EN-807	Mid Phosphorus, Cadmiun and Lead-free	Cadmium and lead-free, high speed EN process meets industry initiatives such as the End-of-Life Vehicle Directive (ELV), the European Union’s Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), and the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE). Excellent stability and consistent plating rate. Offers an exceptional operating flexibility and a wide operating window.
ENPLATE® EN ENLUBE® EN/PTFE	Low friction, PTFE Composite in High Phosphorus EN matrix	An electroless nickel composite plating process that incorporates PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) at 20 to 25% by volume as occluded particles in the plated deposits. This unique plating process is specially designed to produce a consistent amount of uniformly dispersed PTFE throughout the nickel matrix in order to insure optimum performance.
ENPLATE® NC-4732	Wear resistant and low friction, Poly Alloy EN	Nickel-cobalt-phosphorus EN process provides dry lube wear resistance. Ideally suited for high sliding wear applications.
ENPLATE® STOP-OFF No. 1	Maskant for EN	Stop-off maskant for EN plating on steel, aluminum, copper and copper alloys.

Copper Electroplating

Acid Copper

Product	Features/Benefits
CUPROSTAR® 1500 Series	High brightness acid copper process is ideally suited where exceptional throwing power and consistent, high levelling properties are required. Superior additive stability reduces downtime. Provides brilliant ductile deposits. Also available in a dye-free formulation.

Alkaline Copper

Product	Application	Features/Benefits
CUPRALITE®	Cyanide	Formulated to provide semi-bright copper deposits that are free of pitting and roughness. Ideally suited for subsequent buffing, for use as a stop-off prior to case hardening, or as an undercoat for nickel deposits. Deposits are uniform with good plate distribution. The process is highly tolerant to contaminants and prevents the formation of immersion copper deposits on steel, permitting its use without prior use of a strike bath.

Nickel Electroplating

Nickel

Product	Application	Features/Benefits
BLACK PEARL®	Color Nickel	Black nickel process produces a wide variety of decorative deposits ranging from uniform black to dark gray. Deposits are easily highlighted to produce an antique bronze, brass, copper or pewter finish.
BLACK PEARL® CLASSIC II	Color Nickel	Electrolytic black nickel-zinc process produces true black alloy deposits on steel and nickel. Reproducible black finishes from matte to high gloss. Cyanide-free process.
CLASSIC™	Bright	Bright nickel, index process features outstanding ductility. Exhibits excellent deposit properties in high thickness applications. Low sodium and chloride chemistry make it ideal for closed-loop operations. Superior leveling and brightness is achieved over a wide variety of current density plating ranges.
DUR-NI® 4000	Microporous Nickel	Advanced nickel process offered as part of an Enthone® nickel-chromium plating system. Delivers unsurpassed corrosion protection, while enabling consistent and reproducible microporous deposits uniformly across the chromium surface. Specially formulated for automotive applications, the final decorative nickel-chrome composite coatings provide the highest level of assurance in predicting corrosion performance on an array of parts plated for exterior automobile applications. Processes also available for other decorative applications such a hardware, lighting and plumbing accessories. Other DUR-NI processes are also available for other decorative applications such a hardware, lighting and plumbing accessories.
ELPELYT® E10X	Semi-Bright	Provides an initial semi-bright deposit when duplex nickel plating. Deposits are virtually sulfur-free, well levelled, and very ductile. The process is suitable for use with cathodic or air agitation.
ELPELYT® GS 6 ELPELYT LS 1	Bright	Non-index bright nickel processes for rack plating produce highly brilliant, consistently ductile deposits. "Skinny Nickel" processes require less thickness to achieve full brightness. The GS 6 process (available in Asia and Europe) is formulated for metal plating applications where high levelling properties are required. The LS 1 process is formulated for plating on plastics applications that require highly ductile deposits.
NIRON®	Bright Nickel-Iron	Nickel-iron alloy plating process provides well leveled, whiter and more ductile deposits than conventional nickel processes. Due to its reduced nickel content, NIRON offers substantially lower operating costs. The process delivers crack-free, ductile deposits that are easy to over plate with chromium. No equipment modification is required.
PEARLBRITE®	Satin Nickel	Satin nickel processes produce uniform, smooth, satin finishes on steel, copper, and copper alloys over a broad current density range. The PEARLBRITE processes offer the flexibility to produce an attractive, unique finish ranging from satin bright to full matte. PEARLBRITE satin nickels may be overplated with gold, black nickel, silver, chrome, ruthenium, or other coatings to produce a variety of beautiful finishes. It is also an ideal choice for adding a satin finish to a variety of plastics....
TRI NI® TA	High Sulfur	Produces a high-activity nickel strike layer between sulfur-free semi-bright and bright nickel layers of a duplex nickel or NIRON system.

Chrome Electroplating

Chromium Plating

Product	Application	Features/Benefits
Decorative Applications
ANKOR® NFDS	Activator	Electrolytic (cathodic) activator eliminates staining that is the result of passive bright nickel deposits. Optimizes chromium coverage.
ENLOY® Ni-150	Decorative Chromium Alternative	Revolutionary alloy plating process designed to replace decorative chromium on bright nickel plated parts.
TRICROLYTE® IV	Trivalent Chromium	TRICROLYTE IV is ideally suited for decorative applications to plate on top of nickel, nickel-iron or white bronze. The process provides slightly dark chromium layers. Plated on satin nickel specific designs are possible. Process is also suited for discontinuous layer systems (microporous/ micro-cracked nickel)...
TRILYTE® Dusk	Trivalent Chromium	Produces a dark, lustrous coating that is ideally suited for a diversity of decorative automotive (e.g. door handles, grill, exterior molding) and household (e.g. lighting, cabinet hardware, furniture, appliance, sanitary fixtures) applications where fashion finishes are critical to product differentiation. The “warm” color provides a distinctive finish for interior applications. Click here.
Wear Resistant Applications
ANKOR® 1127	Hard Chrome	High efficiency process with minimized substrate etching. Superior hardness, corrosion and wear resistance.
CROMYLITE® 108	Hard Chrome	Higher speed, cathode efficiencies and harder deposits versus conventional chromium processes. Excellent leveling characteristics and uniformity. Designed to give maximum in-plant flexibility by allowing the user to control the sulfate content. Available in the Americas
Mist Suppressants
ANKOR® Wetting Agent F		Foaming wetting agent for decorative and hard chromium. Significantly reduces drag-out losses.
ANKOR® Wetting Agent SRK		Low foaming wetting agent and surface tension reducer for hard chromium plating solutions. Significantly reduces drag-out losses.
ZERO-MIST® Liquid R		Mist and fume suppressant designed to reduce the surface tension of decorative chromium plating solutions and provide a foam blanket that dramatically reduces airborne chromium.