Case 1420 ยท Public preview
Conformal Plating Can Date a Fracture-Initiating Defect
A gold-plated stainless-steel dome switch cracked from its edge toward the center.
SEMSecondary-electron imagingBackscattered-electron imagingFractographyUltrasonic cleaningMetallographic sectioningMicrostructure evaluation
What the evidence preview establishes
Fracture initiated at a small scratch, gouge, or pit in the stainless-steel stamping. Intact gold conformed to the defect, demonstrating that it existed before plating, while the small flaw size indicated limited mechanical margin in the dome design.
Why this case matters
A coating can preserve manufacturing chronology. If plating follows the contour of an initiating flaw without itself being damaged, the defect predates plating and should be investigated in the upstream forming process.
Full evidence reserved for MEMBER and STOREThe complete case includes the evidence sequence, four interpreted figures, alternative explanations, limitations, and practical application guidance.