Since 1981, MIRALLOY® has been a good alternative for nickelfree coatings in the clothing industry. Today, our customers all over the world profit from more than 30 years of experience and the continuous further development of the product series.

With MIRALLOY®, electrolytes are used to deposit copper-tin(-zinc) coatings in rack and barrel plating. The colour of the coatings is white – similar to silver.

Plated garment accessories, such as zips and metal buttons, offer a very high level of resistance to everyday wear.

A further plating layer with gold, rhodium, palladium or other precious metals, as well as tarnish protection if required, can be added problem-free by choosing a suitable process and with the right pre-treatment.

Nickel is the world’s main contact allergen. In Europe, around 15 to 20 percent of women and around five percent of men are sensitive to nickel – in women under 30, this figure rises to around 40 percent. Once someone has developed a sensitivity, constant or repeated contact with the allergen causes the skin or mucus membrane to react with inflammation (e.g. skin rash). The use of nickel is restricted by Annex XVII to Entry 27 of REACH. The definition of ‘prolonged skin contact’ (ECHA Q&A No 935) has resulted in many consumer objects that previously were not affected by the nickel limit now being covered by the 0.5µg/cm²/week maximum.

In contrast to nickel, MIRALLOY® platings do not cause any allergic reactions in accordance with current scientific knowledge, meaning they provide a great alternative. In combination with nickel-free substrate materials and other nickel-free processes, the MIRALLOY® process facilitates the manufacture of skin-friendly products. Its skin tolerance has even been proven in trials with sensitive test subjects. MIRALLOY® has been successfully used as a nickel-free coating on objects all around the world.

Electrolyte characteristics

Coating characteristics

Advantages

• Nickel-free (§27 of REACH, Ann. XVII, Reg. (EC) No 1907/2006, Standard 100 by OEKO-Tex®)
• Free of heavy metals such as Cr, Pb, Co, Th, etc.
• Can be combined with precious metals
• Diamagnetic
• Resistant to tarnishing and corrosion
• Excellent layer thickness distribution
• The coatings are RoHS compliant
• Does not cause allergic reactions in the way that nickel does

MIRALLOY® has been offering alternative nickel-free plating for fashion jewellery since 1981. With MIRALLOY®, electrolytes are used to deposit copper-tin or copper-tin(-zinc) coatings in rack and barrel plating. Depending on the electrolyte used, white or yellow layers can be deposited.

MIRALLOY® coatings stand out due to their excellent distribution of metal and, depending on the bath type, high tarnish resistance, levelling, abrasion resistance and exceptional corrosion resistance. A further plating layer with gold, rhodium, palladium or other precious metals, as well as tarnish protection if required, can be added with the right pre-treatment to create optimal corrosion protection.

Electrolyte characteristics

Coating characteristics

Advantages

• Diamagnetic
• Nickel-free (§27 of REACH, Ann. XVII, Reg. (EC) No 1907/2006, Standard 100 by OEKO-Tex®)
• Resistant to tarnishing and corrosion
• Excellent layer thickness distribution
• Can be lacquered
• Can be combined with precious metals
• Tried and tested process does not cause allergic reactions in the way that nickel does

MIRALLOY® has been offering nickel-free plating for the connector, clothing and fashion jewellery industries for more than 30 years. You can benefit from our experience and the ongoing development of our product range. The trademark MIRALLOY® comes from the English words “mirror“ and “alloy“. It refers to the Bronze Age, when copper and tin were used to make mirrored alloys.

MIRALLOY® denotes electroplating processes for the deposition of alloy coatings of copper and tin or of copper, tin and zinc. Depending on the electrolyte used, white or yellow layers can be deposited. You can choose electrolytes for rack and barrel plating from the wide range of MIRALLOY® processes available.

Electrolyte characteristics

Coating characteristics

Advantages

• Diamagnetic
• High reflectivity
• Good wear and corrosion protection
• Abrasion- and tarnish-resistant
• Can be combined with precious metals
• Good sliding properties
• High hardness
• Solderable and weldable
• Very good metal distribution
• Low porosity
• Free from heavy metals like CR, Pb, Co, Th etc.
• Low intermodulation
• Platings are RoHS-compliant