Technical gold plating (Au)

Selective gold plating is a process in which a layer of 99.9% pure gold is electrolytically applied to selective locations on a component. This process is widely used for membrane seals. 

Gold-plated membrane seals are often used in industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and the food industry to prevent hydrogen permeation. Hydrogen permeation is the process by which hydrogen atoms diffuse through a material, making it brittle and can lead to safety hazards and product contamination in certain industries. Hydrogen can penetrate even the strongest metals, but gold is highly resistant to hydrogen penetration.

By gold plating the inner surface of a membrane seal, engineers can create a reliable barrier that can withstand high pressures and temperatures while offering high levels of chemical inertness and corrosion resistance. This is especially important in industries where safety risks and product contamination are a concern.