With the winter months come freezing temperature, frozen roads, and delayed shipments, so it’s time to start thinking about stocking up on the solutions that you need.

While preparatory solutions are not affected by extreme cold temperatures; plating solutions, when exposed to freezing temperatures – in storage or in transit – may freeze completely or “salt out”, i.e. the formation of a slush or solid crystals at the bottom of the container.

This slush can usually be re-dissolved with vigorous shaking once the solution has been returned to room temperature. In some instances, heating the solution may help, although the maximum operating temperature should not be exceeded. If the salts do not re-dissolve, the solution is not usable. Perform a quality control test in the manufacturing process, as the re-dissolved solutions also may not pass and therefore also be deemed unusable.

This table shows the results of testing conducted on 20 of our most commonly used plating solutions. Testing was completed to determine the effects of exposure to extreme cold temperature for 60 hours at 20 degrees Fahrenheit to determine their usability.

If you are still unsure about the usability of a solution, contact Technical Service at SIFCO Applied Surface Concepts at 800-765-4131.