With the development trend of miniaturization, high power, and high integration of electronic products, heat dissipation issues are becoming increasingly prominent. Copper block, as a material with high thermal and electrical conductivity, plays an important role in the heat dissipation and current transmission of electronic products. In order to improve the practical application performance of copper blocks, surface treatment is essential. The surface treatment process of copper blocks can change their surface properties, such as improving thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, appearance, etc.

The common surface treatment processes for copper blocks mainly include the following:

1. Mechanical processing

Polishing: Grinding the surface of copper blocks using polishing tools and polishing solution to remove surface roughness, improve smoothness, and enhance surface reflectivity. Polishing can improve the thermal and electrical conductivity of copper blocks, as well as enhance their aesthetic appearance.

Drawing: By using sandpaper or drawing tools to roughen the surface of copper blocks, a fine texture can be formed, which can enhance the surface hardness and wear resistance of copper blocks, and also increase their friction coefficient. The wire drawing process can be used to improve the anti slip performance and decorative effect of copper blocks.

Rounding: Rounding copper blocks can make the surface smoother and reduce surface roughness. The rolling process can improve the wear resistance and corrosion resistance of copper blocks.

2 Chemical treatment

Acid washing: using acidic solution to clean the surface of copper blocks, removing surface oxides and impurities, and improving the surface cleanliness of copper blocks. Pickling can improve the thermal and electrical conductivity of copper blocks, as well as enhance their welding performance.

Alkali washing: Use alkaline solution to clean the surface of copper blocks, remove surface oil stains and organic matter, and improve the surface cleanliness of copper blocks. Alkali washing can improve the welding performance and corrosion resistance of copper blocks.

Passivation: By chemical methods, a dense oxide film is formed on the surface of copper blocks to improve their corrosion and oxidation resistance. Passivation can extend the service life of copper blocks and prevent surface corrosion.

3 Electroplating

Gold plating: Plating a layer of gold on the surface of copper blocks can improve their corrosion resistance and conductivity, as well as enhance their aesthetic appearance. Gold plating technology is commonly used in high-end electronic products, such as mobile phones, computers, precision instruments, etc.

Silver plating: Coating a layer of silver on the surface of a copper block can improve its conductivity and thermal conductivity, while also reducing its cost. Silver plating technology is commonly used for internal connections in electronic products, such as power modules, heat sinks, etc., and is also suitable for devices that require high conductivity.

Tin plating: Coating a layer of tin on the surface of copper blocks can improve their corrosion resistance and welding performance, while also reducing their cost. Tin plating process is commonly used in electronic product connectors and heat sinks, and is also suitable for applications that require solder mask.

Nickel plating: Coating a layer of nickel on the surface of copper blocks can significantly improve their corrosion resistance, wear resistance, hardness, and oxidation resistance. The nickel plating process is usually used to improve the surface hardness and wear resistance of copper blocks, and extend their service life. It is widely used in various occasions that require improved corrosion resistance and wear resistance, such as electronic product connectors, heat sinks, mechanical parts, tools, etc.

4 Other surface treatment processes

Sandblasting: By spraying sand particles onto the surface of copper blocks, the surface roughness and friction coefficient can be improved, enhancing their slip resistance and wear resistance. The sandblasting process can be used to enhance the decorative effect of copper blocks and is also suitable for applications that require an increase in surface friction coefficient.

Electrophoretic coating: By using electrophoretic technology to deposit coatings on the surface of copper blocks, it can improve their corrosion resistance and wear resistance, as well as enhance their aesthetic appearance. The electrophoretic coating process can be used to improve the durability and decorative effect of copper blocks, and is also suitable for applications that require special colors or surface textures.

Vacuum coating: By using vacuum coating technology to coat a thin film on the surface of a copper block, its surface properties can be changed, such as improving its thermal conductivity, conductivity, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, appearance, etc. The vacuum coating process can be used to improve the multifunctionality and decorative effect of copper blocks, and is also suitable for applications that require special optical or other functional coatings.

The influence of surface treatment process on the properties of copper blocks

Different surface treatment processes have varying effects on the properties of copper blocks, as follows:

Thermal conductivity

Polishing, acid washing, silver plating and other processes can improve the thermal conductivity of copper blocks.

Gold plating, sandblasting, nickel plating and other processes may reduce the thermal conductivity of copper blocks.

Conductivity

Gold plating, silver plating, acid washing and other processes can improve the conductivity of copper blocks.

Tin plating, sandblasting, nickel plating and other processes may reduce the conductivity of copper blocks.

Corrosion resistance

Gold plating, silver plating, passivation, nickel plating and other processes can improve the corrosion resistance of copper blocks.

Polishing, drawing and other processes may reduce the corrosion resistance of copper blocks.

Wear resistance

Gold plating, tin plating, sandblasting, nickel plating and other processes can improve the wear resistance of copper blocks.

Polishing, drawing and other processes may reduce the wear resistance of copper blocks.

appearance

Polishing, gold plating, silver plating, electrophoretic coating and other processes can improve the appearance of copper blocks.

Sandblasting, wire drawing and other processes can create special textures on the surface of copper blocks, enhancing their decorative effect. Polishing, gold plating, silver plating, electrophoretic coating and other processes can improve the appearance of copper blocks. Sandblasting, wire drawing and other processes can create special textures on the surface of copper blocks, enhancing their decorative effect.

Suggestions for the selection of surface treatment processes

When choosing a surface treatment process for copper blocks, comprehensive consideration should be given to specific application scenarios and requirements, such as:

Heat dissipation application: Prioritize processes that can improve thermal conductivity, such as polishing, acid washing, nickel plating, etc.

Conductive applications: Prioritize processes that can improve conductivity, such as gold plating, nickel plating, acid washing, etc.

Corrosion resistant applications: Prioritize processes that can improve corrosion resistance, such as gold plating, silver plating, passivation, nickel plating, etc.

Wear resistant applications: Prioritize processes that can improve wear resistance, such as gold plating, tin plating, sandblasting, nickel plating, etc.

Appearance application: Prioritize processes that can improve the appearance, such as polishing, gold plating, silver plating, electrophoretic coating, etc.

Article source: Internet