Baking for Zinc Plating
We provide in-house hydrogen embrittlement relief baking services (also known as post-plating baking) for hardened or heat-treated parts.
With 10 dedicated batch ovens, we have ample capacity to support large parts, large orders, and a wide range of bake durations. This ensures bake cycles meet specification timing requirements without unnecessary order delays.
Why Customers Trust Us for Critical Bake Cycles
- 10 Dedicated Batch Ovens Operating Daily
- Large Parts And High Volume Capacity
- Bake Cycles From 1 To 24+ Hours
- Immediate Transfer From Plating To Baking
- Routine Testing And Oven Calibration for Reliable Performance
- Certified Baking Documentation With Every Order
We perform post-plating baking for critical components across industries including oil & gas, defense, agriculture, and heavy equipment manufacturing.
Post-Plating Baking: What It Is & Why It Matters
Hydrogen embrittlement relief baking is a controlled heat treatment process performed immediately after electroplating to remove absorbed hydrogen before it becomes trapped within the steel surface.
The Challenge
Hydrogen is introduced into steel during the electroplating process. In hardened or high-strength steels, this absorbed hydrogen can increase a parts’ susceptibility to premature cracking or failure in service.
The Solution
To tackle this challenge, many specifications require post-plating baking for parts with a hardness of 31 HrC or greater. Baking relieves stress by repositioning hydrogen molecules before they become trapped within the steel, helping restore the part’s strength and reliability.
Why Oven Capacity Matters
Capacity Directly Impacts Lead Time
Because bake time is fixed, oven availability directly affects how quickly orders move.
Long bake cycles, large parts, or high production volumes can occupy ovens for hours creating bottlenecks when capacity is limited or orders are not scheduled properly.
With 10 dedicated ovens operating daily, we have the capacity to run large parts, high volumes, and extended bake cycles simultaneously. Parts move into bake cycles as soon as plating is complete, allowing multiple orders to progress without delays caused by limited oven space.
This capacity also allows us to meet required bake times without slowing production.
Direct Transfer from Plating to Baking
Parts transfer directly from plating into controlled bake cycles within the specified timeframe.
Our Ovens Are Tested and Verified
Baking requires precise temperature control and consistent oven performance to meet specification requirements.
Our ovens undergo routine testing and certified calibration ensuring your parts receive an accurate baking process.
This includes:
- Quarterly Oven Calibration – Ensuring proper temperature control
- Annual Uniformity Testing- Ensuring consistent heat distribution throughout the oven so parts receive the correct bake conditions regardless of their location within the load.
Certified Baking Documents with Every Order
All orders requiring hydrogen embrittlement relief baking include certified documentation verifying the amount of time parts were in the oven along with oven temperature by hour.
Our Certified Bake Records Include:
- Recorded bake temperature
- Recorded bake duration
- Load traceability
- Verification of specification compliance
Baking Time and Temperature Requirements
Typical bake temperatures range from approximately 375°F to 450°F, depending on material and specification requirements. Bake cycles may range from one hour to more than 24 hours and can vary based on:
- Material hardness
- Specification requirements
- Application of the part
Controlled oven temperature and uniform heat distribution are essential for effective hydrogen diffusion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Post-Plating Baking
No. Post-plating baking is typically only required for steels hardened to 31 HrC or higher, or when specified by standards such as ASTM B633, ASTM B849, ASTM B850, or ISO 4042.
Baking should begin within 2 hours after plating to ensure maximum results.
Typical bake temperatures range from 375°F to 450°F depending on material and specification requirements.
Bake cycles commonly range from 1 hour to more than 24 hours. Parts must remain in ovens at temperature for the required duration.
Hydrogen embrittlement may cause premature cracking or failure in hardened steel parts. Baking removes absorbed hydrogen helping restore the strength of the steel.
Located in Chicago, we reach 65% of the U.S. in a day, lowering freight costs, reducing lead times, and enabling direct shipping to your customer.
With 210,000 sq. ft., we process full truckload orders efficiently, keeping parts organized and on schedule with dedicated staging, processing, and tracking.
Flaking, bleed-out, poor adhesion, we catch plating issues early before they turn into costly problems.
From fast quotes to clear answers, we simplify the plating process so you can focus on the rest of your project.
Contact Our Plating Experts
Whether you know exactly what you need or just need to talk it through, we’re here to help with quick turnaround times and expert guidance.