Activation is an important step in electroplating where thinner surface films such as oxides, carbonates, silicates, and sulfides are removed from the metal to ensure good adhesion for the subsequent plating process. Typically, this process is done chemically, but Swiss Armoloy prefers a mechanical pretreatment as it is gentler on the workpiece. This results in a finer, more compact, and more regular surface, without hydrogen deposits that could lead to a brittle material structure and require high heating (approximately 6 hours of annealing at around 300°C) to break down. Through this gentle mechanical pretreatment, a maximum processing temperature of 60°C is sufficient for subsequent process steps.