Coating for metal shelving and method of applying same

Abstract

A plastic coating for plated metal shelving used in walk-in coolers, and the method of applying the coating to the metal shelving. When the metal shelving is cleaned and prepared for the plating, a nickel film and a chromium film are electrodeposited in that order on the metal shelving in two successive operations. The deposited chromium metal surface is then treated with an iron phosphate in order to enhance the adhesion of a final outer layer of plastic. The iron phosphate treatment is carried out in a three-stage spray washer operation. The coating in the form of an epoxy resin is then applied, where the epoxy resin is preferably a thermosetting plastic of the Bisphenol-A type which requires specific time and temperatures to achieve a proper desired cure and color.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.