Jarrid wrote:
>
>Any time you plate "or replate" pre-stressed metals, the plating process
>itself makes the plated part weaker and more brittle. The reason is
>Hydrogen Embrittlement, and the result can be "stress broken" spokes
>and the like.
>
>
There is a possibility to avoid this hydrogen penetration, you must adjust
the pH of the plating liqid. But I don't remember how!! Every now and then
you see chrome plated springs, and hydrogen penetration makes springs
specially brittle if you run plating in pH where hydrogen forms as free
gas.
This embrittlement is due to hydrogen gas penetrating to the molecular
structure of steel. When stressed, this gas wants to inflate and then it
breaks steel.
As long as new spokes are available at reasonable price, wheels should be
rebuild. There is allso a tiny change that there is solid plating under the
paint.
Lauri
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