FAA Advisory Circular 43.13-1B
Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices
Aircraft Inspection and Repair
AC 43.13-1B | 4. Metal Structure, Welding, and Brazing | 4. Metal Repair Procedures | 4-62. Selective Plating in Aircraft Maintenance
AC 43.13-1B
9/8/98
(5) Immediately electroplate the part
using any solutions, except copper or silver.
Both of these require undercoats.
(6) Rinse and dry.
n. Plating on Cast Iron and
High-Carbon Steels (Steels Heat Treated to
180,000 psi).
(1) Electroclean the area using direct
current until water does not break on the sur
face. This electroclean process should be ac
complished at 12 to 20 volts, using the appro
priate electrocleaning solution.
(2) Rinse the area thoroughly in cold,
clean tap water.
(3) Immediately electroplate the part,
using either nickel, chromium, gold, or cad
mium. Other metals require an undercoat of
one of the above. Plate initially at the highest
voltage recommended for the solution so as to
develop an initial barrier layer. Then reduce to
standard voltage.
(4) Rinse and dry.
(5) Bake the part for 4 hours at 375 °F
± 25 °F.
(2) Rinse the area thoroughly in cold,
clean tap water.
(3) Reverse-current etch at 8 to
10 volts, using the appropriate etching solu
tion, until a uniform gray is obtained.
(4) Rinse thoroughly.
(5) Remove surface smut with 15 to
25 volts using the appropriate activating solu
tion.
(6) Rinse thoroughly.
(7) Electroplate immediately, using any
of the solutions, except copper or silver (both
of these require undercoats).
(8) Rinse and dry.
o. Plating on Ultrahigh Strength Steels
(Heat Treated Above 180,000 psi).
NOTE: Where the solution vendor
provides substantiating data that hy
drogen embrittlement will not result
from plating with a particular solu
tion, then a postbake is not required.
This substantiating data can be in the
form of aircraft industry manufac
turer’s process specifications, military
specifications, or other suitable data.
NOTE: Acid etching should be
avoided, if possible. Where etching is
absolutely necessary, it should always
be done with reverse current. Use al
kaline solutions for initial deposits.
p. Dissimilar Metals and Changing
Base. As a general rule, when plating two dis
similar metals, follow the plating procedure for
the one with the most steps or activation. If
activating steps have to be mixed, use reverse-
current activation steps prior to direct-current
activation steps.
(1) Electroclean the area using reverse
current until water does not break on the sur
face. This electroclean process should be ac
complished at 8 to 12 volts using the appropri
ate electroclean solution.
q. Plating Solution Selection.
(1) Alkaline and neutral solutions are to
be used on porous base metals, white metals,
high-strength steel, and for improved coating
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