The Study of Optimum Factors in Gold Plating Process to Enhance OTOP Knife Products for Ban Mai Knife Forgers Village, Lom Sak District, Phetchabun

Abstract

This research aimed to study the optimum factors affecting the quality of gold plating process to enhance OTOP knife products of Ban Mai knife forgers village. This study focused on application of AISI 5160 steel and the 24k gold plating process.In the experiment, three samples of plating currents were observed; 10, 12, and 14 volts, each at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 seconds, and 180 seconds, respectively. The study found that applying the electric currents in gold plating at 12 volts for 120 seconds gave the best results for the gold color and thickness, by giving the thickness of the gold surface at 33.82 micron and the color value between L*=88.72, a*=4.45 and b*=78.58. Moreover, the gold dispersion was consistent throughout the workpiece. From applying the electric currents in gold plating at 10 volts, it lessened the thickness of the gold plating which made the gold plating look uneven. From applying the electric currents in gold plating at 14 volts, it increased the thickness of the gold plating which resulted in a dull or burned finish from over-plating. In comparison, the cost of the knife before plating with gold costs only 30 baht per piece while the cost of the knife after plating with gold costs 99 baht per piece. In conclusion, the daily sales of a product increase from 50-60 items per day to 60-75 items per day, which also resulted in increased revenue and profitability from 1,500-1,800 baht per day to 5,940-7,425 baht per day on average.